THE JUNIOR MEMBER FOR THE THAMES.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 154, 20 August 1881, Page 3

THE JUNIOR MEMBER FOR THE THAMES.

An "Irish halt-caste" is what Mr. Sheetum late?y described himself. Rorrj m Auckland, Mr. fiheeuan is h wonderful specimen of the genus Colonial-Paddy. If his career caunot be deemed a success, it is not for the waut of being held m excellent estimation by one man, that man being Mr. John Sheeh.m. Not without experieuce m spcakiug ml debate, for he had held office m proviucial administrations, Mr. Sheehan was yet a young man when he was ek-c'eJ to a seat m the House of Representatives — a man of no such high culture, rank, or experience, but that it might have been expected of him that he won Id have commenced his Parliamentary '.nurse with modesty. Bui the flattering remarks of congratulation of his hems: the first New Zealand-born statesman who h.ul entered the House, heaped upon bun by such o'd politicians as Sir Francis l>ell and others, chimed m m> well with bis own vanity that he launched out at once into one of the most bombastic speeches ever heard m the House. St John crying m the wilderness, he likened binv-Vif to, but the similitude I have everfaHed to recognise. Of Mr. Sheehan' s reputation and . c bestknown traits of his character m private life — if any life can be deenud private which is so open to public observations and of so f .(pent public remark — it is not seeiHy to speak. It is no longer wbispe ed m the ear, but proclaimed from the house-tops. It gives me, therefore, .he more pleasure to dra-v ;itfe;:tion to the points of merits m Mr. Sheehan's public character. Without doubt he is the best tactician m the House, and were he a person on whom more dependence could be placed, might coramaud a large following. He speaks weU-uot pteasantly, for his voice is ron?h, his enunciation common, and he rushes the last part of his sentences, so as sometimes almost to make them unintelligible. But he has that great gift of oratory, the power of speaking with apparent earuestucss and ingenuousness, which deceives the innocent and ignorant. His speeches are clever, pithy, and amusing. He hits hard, but always above the belt, levels no truthless insinuations, and makes no enemies by the misuse of his tongue. A tone of levity seems to pervade his speeches, because he constantly quotes the Bible — not that I object to the use of Biblical phrases or similes occasionally, but Mr. Sheehan, by his frequent use of Scriptare lauguage, begets a feeliug of irreverence. He is ever quoting them, And r.rc i; sturbed by oo.isrienlnoug qnoiins Pervfiils vie Piophets, a'ld purloius tho As a mm of business, Mr Sheehan is loose, reckless and unreliable, but as an administrator he carried that looseness and recklessness to such a pitch as was never heard of m the country before. His bills for oab hire arc not yet forgotten, but it .'.T.in keeping with the friendly way m which all parties treat him that the House passed them without a murmur. His utter extravagenc- helped to place the country m the difficulties m which Sir George Grey's Government left it, 'iml bis mismanagement of Native affairs was unexampled. With all his knowledge of Maoris and Maori customs, Mr. Sheehan has no real influence over the race. While he scattered gold broadcast amoug them, the Natives suffered him ; but the Maori chief has the instincts of a gentleman, and he can discern as well as the best of us who is and who is not a Rangitira-Pakeha. Mr. Sheihan's bomhommic makes him liked m spite of all his faults ; but be is not trusted, aud will never take a lending position again. Though a member of that pure Liberal party whose highest aspirations were to prevent the acquisition of 1 arse estates, Mr. Sheehan is now himself the agent of the largest laud purchasers m the Island ; and though a member of Sir George Grey's Cabinet, he has lately opnosed himself so much to the views of bis chief, that it is freely said he will not, at all events with Sir George Grey's consent, be returned for the Thames again. If he does lose his seat at the next election, Mr. Sheehan will never be seen m the House again. He has so abused and depraved the position of a Minister of the Crown, that no. party would again entrust him with office ; and even his great power of debate is going, if we are to take his speech on the Redistribution of Seats Bill as an example of capabilities now. Socially and politically, Mr Sheehan is m bad odour, and once out of the arena there is nothing m him to bring about bis return. He is one out of many sad instances of how a career bright with promise can, by an overweening self-con-fi 'ence, by an absence of principle, by a misuse of the powers bestowed upon him by Providence, and au abuse of the position those powers have placed him m become smudged-blurred ra t from our re- [ collection, and leave no good or successful deeds behind to keep his memory green. Tgnotus.