MR. SHEEHAN IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 361, 11 January 1879, Page 12

MR. SHEEHAN IN THE NORTH.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Alexandra, Thursday. The Hon. the Native Minister and party arrived at Alexandra about 5 p.m. yesterday, after a hot and dusty journey from Kihikihi. Mr. Sheehan stayed at Te Awamutu on his way for a short time, and received a depxxtation of settlers, who came to see him on the subject of utilising the unsold lands, a bridge over the Mangokoe, and other matters. Soon after his arrival at Alexandra, Mr. Sheehan xvas visited by several native chiefs, amongst whom were Tapihana and Tikia. After the usual greetings were over the following speeches were made : Tikia said : Salutations to you, Mr. Sheehan. I have come to see you iu ox*der that I may look at you, aud you at me, for you are the Native Minister —the appointed father, to guide us all. Haxuiha said : Salutations. You are now in the place of Sir Donald McLean. I am going to follow Tikia’s example. Let the lamp be lit that we may see. Tapihana then made a long speech, in which he said: Salutations to you, Mr. Sheehan. I would have tried-to meet you at Ohaupo, but I was afraid, lest I should, be taken and sent to gaol. When the war broke out at Waitara, Potatau resided at Mangare ; there he saw Governor Browne. The Governor then said, “I am going to Waitara to fight.” Potatau said, “Do stay.” The Governor said “ No, I will go.” Potatau said, “ Then I remain ; I will stick to love, the law, and worship God.” The war took place, and the Maoris and Europeans were killed at Waitara. Potatau then asked me to go and make peace. (Here followed a long history of the war.) These words of Potatau are now a law for me and mine. I have done with strife, and will spend my time iu helping to bring about a good understanding between the races, that those words of Potatau may be fulfilled. Let the two races be gathered together with my arms. Potatau called the pakeha his father, and so I say to you that you are our father. Let yonr guiding of us be fatherly, for we are bad children.. Salutations to you. Mr. Sheehan replied at some length to the

various speeches, and, referring to the words of Potatau, that love an 1 truth should reign in the island, expressed his belief that the time was fast approaching when the principles involved in those three great words would regulate and govern therelations betweenboth races, as they once did in the past. Mr. McMinn, M. HU’., and Mr. Byron, chairman of the highway district, waited upon Mr. Sheehan on several local matters. This and departmental work occupied Mr. Sheeh till late at night. This morning the Native Minister 1 met a number of natives who are now disputing with Walker about the Pukerau block. A long talk took place as to fcho previous history of the block. At the conclusion Mr. Sheehan said that ho was quite willing that the whole matter should be inquired into, so that it might be seen which side was right and which was wrong. This ha would only undertake, however, upon one condition, namely, that they should not attempt to assert their rights by force. If they did so he would have to have recourse to another line of action. They should remember that fighting and. acts of violence had failed in previous years to discover what was right, and so they would fail in the future. The assembly gave Mr. Sheehana hearty promise that they would carefully abide a settlement, and the meeting then came to an end. At about eleven o'clock, Rewi, who had sent word previously to the Native Minister that ha was coming to him. arrived at Alexandra, accompanied by some of his friends. He has spent the day in company with Mr. Sheehan, Paul Tuhaare, Majors Te Wkeoro and Kemp, Ahiepene Kaihau, and others, and appears to be enjoying himself immensely. The interest of the meeting has also been increased by the arrival from Auckland of the chief of Rax’otonga and his companions, and there has been during the afternoon a very interesting -social gathering or conversazione, which ha 3 been chai’acterised by fun and good humor, and appears to be generally enjoyed by Rewi and the chiefs, and not less so by the Europeans present whose knowledge of the language enables them to appreciate the fun. During the day the Hon. Native Minister, accompanied by Mr. Rusden, Mr. Lewis, and others of that party, visited the celebrated pa of Matikiki. The events of that memorable fight, where over two thousand of the Waikato ttibes were killed by the Ngapuhi, under Tongi Kaikau, wei’e recounted on the spot by~ Ahipene Kaihau. A ditch, parapet, and glacis, to every foot of which some story of bravery or interest attached, were visited. The Native Minister will probably leave for Hamilton early to-morrow morning.