BUST OF SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 October 1901, Page 3

BUST OF SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Deserving Tribute of Aftection.

(OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, This Day. The bust of Sir Harry Atkinson subscribed for by h-s old constituents of Egmont was on view in the Parliamentary Library to-clay.

It is of white marble the work of the well-known sculptor Pegram-, and it is a speaking likeness—so speaking — as to be startling. The artist has reproduced all the features and character complete. The square forehead with its shaggy eyebrows, the great head with the huge stock of hair, the rugged curling thick heard, and heavy moustache, the resolute face and the poise of the head on the shoulders. It is far and away the best bust in the colony. On its pedestal of carrara marble it will be an ornament of the Parliament Library. The cost, £l7O, was defrayed by the constituency and there is a replica in plaster for Haw era.

The bust was unpacked to-day and created a great sensation particularly among the older Parliamentarians who crowded round with great interest, old friends and old antagonists standing silent and wistful. It was a pathetic sight. There is no disagreement among them now. It was easy to see how they were united in their homage to one of the strongest personalities that ever took part in the making of the history of the colony. The rush of memories that came to us who had seen the strong man at his best in his bravest days was overflowing. It seems but yesterday that the awestricken voice of the Speaker (Major Steward) announced his sudden death in the “other place ”; but yesterday thatwe looked our last on him as he lay at rest on his bed in the alcove, but here was the face once more before us. We owe it to his constituents that it will be always before us, reminding us of his faithful service, his energetic and unsparing toil, his noble sense of duty, and his high courage reminding us in a word of the grand example of that unselfish and devoted life. '