MR SHEEHAN'S VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2927, 1 September 1879, Page 3

MR SHEEHAN'S VISIT.

The Hon. J. Sheehan, accompanied by Major Withers. Superintendent Thomson, A(J Messrs Puckey, and other native oilicinls, and a party of Thames Volunteers and Constabulary, arrived at Paeroa in the steamer Vivid on Saturday night. On Sunday morning Mr Sheehau addressed Tutokuro and the Komato uatives in the Paeroa Hall, Ohinemurii Tne Bon. Mr Sheehan said : I salute you people who belong to the place polluted with blood. I have come here on account ■of this bad act that has been done. I did not call you here to have a meeting, but to hear what I have to say. I want to tell you that the reason of my coming here is about the survey of that block. lam very vouri (grieved) about the whole thing, on account of its being tiie first of its kind that has taken place in Hauraki, and I hope it will be the last. There arc £wo things of •course—the question about the title to the 3and, and the right or wrong of the survey. ■The other is entirely distinct from thafcthe shooting and wounding of a man ; and while I am quite prepared jt.o discuss with you the fairness or unfairness of the survey, 1 wish to take the people who have been shooting. I am going to their settlement for the purpose of seeing them. If they are there I will take them back with me; if they have flown from justice, then I will do the next best thing—l will take their land until the people are given up. I am quite aware that this is a thing done without the .consent of the people of Haunalq. Jt ie cvi-

dently the act of a very few peuple. Those same people have been troublesome for the last two or three years. I intend to make use of the prcsoiit 'opportunity to stop them from making troubles of a similar kind again. I have been very patient with them for the last two or three years, and now that they have gone so far as to attack the lives of persons acting lawfully in making a survey, I intend to gofurther and take them. With that object in view I intend to open a road from Ohinemuri to Grahamstown, and the railway, and the wire, and when I have got these things, I will be prepared to say that I have got satisfaction for this outrage. But for this trouble I would have been content to have waited quietly and worked the thing out. The best way to show that you are not parties to this business is to let the thiug be done quietly. I do not want to talk or hear anything from you. These are my own views, and when I return to this settlement I will be very glad to have a talk with you. Do not think tbat I am acting without right on my part.

It was Mr Sheehan's intention to take a party of Volunteers and Constabulary to the place of outrage and seize the offenders, but the chief Tutokiuo asked him to let Mr Puckey and a party of twenty natives go and derail ml the surrender. This course was agreed to, and Mr Fvickey went to the settlement, where he found only about a dozen natives. Two of the number named Hepiha and Pakaia confessed to having shot the European, but refused to surrender, asserting that they were quite right in what they had done. They had gone out intending to kill the Maori, but not finding him, shot the pakclui. Failing to secure the surrender peacefully, Mr Puckey returned for instructions, xvir Sheehan consulted with.-Mr.ThQ.nson and Major Withers as to the best course to adopt, and finally resolved to leave Mr Thomson iv the district with all the available men to act as circumstances might require. Mr Sheehau then returned.

While at Ohiuemuri he received several local deputations and promised that the roads and telegraph should be commenced at once. Major Withers inspected the Ohiuemuri volunteers.