The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1888. SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1754, 31 January 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1888. SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

In that slipshod version of " English as she is spoke," which is peculiar to sub-oceanic telegraphy, and which will one day render necessary a handbook to "English as she is cabled," we are tnformfd that "Major Atkinson has been decorated with the honor of K.C.M.G." Decorating with the badge or ribbon of an Order we can understand, but "decorating with the honor of a Knight " is a form of expression wieh is, to say the least of it, clumsy. But what is meant to be conveyed is intelligible enough, so perhaps we need not be over-critical as to tht. form m which the announcement is made. The only wonder is that it has been delayed co long, But, better late than never, and from one end of the Colony to the other there will be a universal feeling of satisfaction that the well-deserved honor which the Queen has been pleased to confer upon the hon and gallant member for Egmont, has, even though tardily, become the reward ot many years of faithful service m the Colony m tbe Council and m the fit-Id. Not one, even among hU stoutest political adversary's, but will be pleased at this mark of Htr Majesty's f.vor, for even those who h,«ve fiihYred and do differ from Mm on p-.iltncal principles, will be non. the less read; to admit that if ever colonial statesman deserved the honor of Knighthood, mo6t certainly Major Atkinson has deserved it, As we have said, it is matter for surprise that his name was not added 10 the roll of the Order of St, Michael and St. George years ago, the more especially that we have reason

to think it has more than once been the subject of recommcndaiions to the usual quarter. Jt may, we imagine, be taken for granted that before quitting office a few months ago, the late StoutYogel Government took steps to bring the matter more pronouncedly before Her Majesty's advisers, and that the result is the announcement to which we are now referring. If so, they but discharged a duty which the Colony expected of them, and which we are sure was a most agreeable one to per form, and ex-Ministers, as well as roemf ers of the House aadthe general public, will heartily h pc with us that Sir Harry Alkin.on may long be spared to wear the honors *o deservedly accorded i to him by Her Maj sty th<- Queen. J