THE HON. THE NATIVE MINISTER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 870, 22 August 1879, Page 2

THE HON. THE NATIVE MINISTER.

[To the Editor of the Herald.] Sir, — Mr. Sheehan has probably satisfactorily accomplished the end he had m view m coming down here, ana certainly he deserves every credit for the able manner m which he fenced with every question addressed to him ; giving no direct answer m any case, arid best of all being applauded by the questioners themselves; also to be admired is the extreme liberality of Mr. Rees, who without a moment's hesitation, pledged his word that if the line was taken across the river on the Whataupoko Block, he would guarantee the land. Notwithstanding Mr. Rees' kindness, one would thinkthat thebestline would be that which he will have little to do with the matter Leaving that* let us again admire the extreme delicacy of Mr. Sheehan, and the ability displayed m getting rid of awkward questions with applause. Mr. J. Browne asked him to address the electers, or alternative, to take a trap to Ormond ; though what connection there may be between the -two proposals is not so obvious ; neither is the answer made by Mr. Sheehan so plain to the general understanding. Mr. Sheehan said "that he was unwilling to do either. He would say that as soon as the claims of one district are likely to be paid attention to, the Government are inundated with those of other districts." It is as well Mr. Sheehan said "likely,") for to judge by this district, and the way m which it was disregarded, Mr. Sheehan and his colleagues must have been afraid of the inundation before referred to, and have applied the same objection to every district m turn. Again, I do not see that because Mr. Sheehan talks for half-an-hour, or takes a drive, that the district is greatly benefitted thereby. For the first part of the answer, when you cannot satisfy all, satisfy none, will do ; the second is a mystery. Also a mystery is the gracious remark made by Mr. Sheehan at the close of the entertainment— " That the result of the whole was more satisfactory than if he had addressed a public meeting." The mystery does not lie m the remark of his being satisfied, but m his conferring by inference the title of private on the meeting. Taking his word for it I will not criticise any further matters sub rosa. — I am, _.&, Tai Rawhiti. [The object of Mr. Browne inviting Mr. Sheehan to visit Ormond m a trap was obvious to those who formed the deputation. If Mr. Sheehan could have been induced to travel the road, it would have told him more than a score of deputations could do. — Ed.]