PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS TO THE HON. D. MACLEAN, C.M.G.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 28 May 1872, Page 2

PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS TO THE HON. D. MACLEAN, C.M.G.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. Innes, Hunt, Bradloy, and Bell, waited upon the Hon. Donald Maclean, on Saturday morning at eleven o'clock, to present tlie congratulatory! address which we published in our last issue. Mr. Maclean gave the following reply : - - Gentlemen, —I thank you for the kind expression with which you have welcomed me to the "Waikato. It is a source of great gratification to me to find that the policy of the Government meets with the support of the settlers in the Delta, and that they, the pioneers, as they may be termed, of civilization, and the inhabitants of a frontier territory recognise the advantages which have been gained by the course adopted towards the natives and by the efforts made to open up and facilitate communication throughout the country. At this, the outset of my visit to the Waikato, it Avould be premature to enter upon question* touching the future relations between Europeans and natives in this district; but you may reet assured that it hits always been and always will be the earnest wish of the Government to give, not only to the Waikato, but also to tho«e other parts of the Island which have suffered from the evils of war, the blessings of peace and security, and that no effort consistent with the true interests of the colony has been, or will be, spared to achieve such

a> desirable result. I beg once more in the name of my colleagues and myself to return my thanks for the feeling which has prompted the address you have presented to me. The gentlemen composing the deputation then brought under the notice of the hon. gentleman several matters of local interest, the first being the disposal of the suburban sections of the township of Ngaruawahia. Mr Maclean said he could not give any answer with regard to this matter, as the manner in which they will be disposed of depended upon the result of the meeting he was about to attend. The next matter touched upon was the bridge across the Waikato. Mr. Maclean said he had communicated with Mr. Ormond, who informed him that the bridge would cost 4,500/. He was of opinion that it would be better to wait, as it might be judicious to build a bridge that would carry the railway across. Mr. Maclean said he was sorry that the negociations now pending precluded him from giving more explicit answers to the questions put to him, but he hoped that little time would elapse before he found himself in a position to satisfy all inquiries. The deputation requested that the brick redoubt, erected close to the township, might be declared a short-sentence gaol for the Waikato. Mr, Maclean thought it would be advisable that thie should be done. The deputation retired, after thanking Mr Maclean for his courteey.