BANQUET TO THE HON. J. SHEFHAN.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3056, 30 November 1878, Page 2

BANQUET TO THE HON. J. SHEFHAN.

. (Per Press Agency.) V NEW PLYMOUTH. This day. At the banquet given to Mr Sheehan, at which all the leading people were present, he said Rewi was no common man, and, speaking of his bravery, said he was the last man to leave a pah when it was. Rtormed and taken. Rewi fought against them, but fought honourably, and now returned to his allegiance to the Queen, and from a conversation he had made tha,t. afternoon with the chiefs he learnt that' nothing would please Eewi better than to go to England that be might tender his allegiance to the Queen in person. Referring to railway to Waikato, he said before he left Taranaki he hoped to ensure th£t' the Crown would have acquired as much land in that direction that: the Government would be able to say to,the colony: " These are our assets to construct the railway that will go far to pay the total cost." He had. organised an exploring party to search the country i carefully and to ascertain which was the best route. With reference to the Waimate Plains he urged patience in not pushing on the sale. Colonel Trimble, proposed Rewi's health. Rewi, in reply, said on liis first arrival here he knew there were different races, then the war arose. This day he met them all and hoped the Europeans would follow the interests of the natives, and the natives would follow the interests of the Europeans; He hoped old feuds were finished and for the future they would all work peaceably together. He hoped they would all lire long and do good. r ; F '