Death of Sir Harry Atkinson.

Manawatu Herald, 30 June 1892, Page 2

Death of Sir Harry Atkinson.

The whole oolony mourns the death of Sir Harry Atkinson, which took plaoe suddenly on Tuesday afternoon in the Parliamentary Buildings. No publics man has held the position that the deceased statesman did in this oolony, and all political parties will testify to his usefulness and singleness of purpose. The New Zealand Times 3ays that on Tuesday Sir Harry Atkinson,, as Speaker of the Legislative Council, was in his place in the Council as usual, presiding, at the appointed hour. His friends were averse to his doing any work ; they felt thatvest was the one thing he needed— not to enable him to recover, but to give him the best chance to prolong the useful life which was not far beyond the threshold of old age. But the instinot of the old soldier clung to duty ; his 'friends thought that if he were kept from duty, he would fret and fume. In fact, they understood his resolute spirit, and they ceased to make objection. And so it came to pass that on the last day of his life Sir Hairy Atkinson was in harness. His heart was affected. Its condition was a constant threat to him ; but he faced the world serenely, and no one ever ■aw a hint of fear in the brave eyes.

Yesterday when the names were mentioned of the absent who would never more answer to the muster roll, his face was observed to be set. Sir Patrick Buckley and Mr Oliver made sympathetic reference to the late Sir Frederio Whitaker, the constant colleague and companion of the Speaker listening with rigid ashen face . When the Council adjourned, which it presently did out of respect for the memory of the dead; Mr Oliver and Captain Morris went with Sir Harry to his room. They talked with him of death, and they offered sympathy for the loss of his old friend. They hoped his own state of health might be improving.

Sir Harry was cheerful and pleasant, but disguise the situation in which he stood he would not. No, he said, with the pleasant smile which so often lighted up his rugged , face, he wa3 not likely toget better. ' I have' got my marching orders, he added, with that touch of soldierly simplicity which distinguished so much of what he said aud did. The uncompromising statement

shocked his two friends. . They deprecated it. They assured him that he had not looked so well for many a day as ho had done when he put the question of adjournment that afternoon. To that he made the rather surprising reply to the effect that lie did, Hot feel quite right just tlieii, arid lie added tllat he should not like his friends to leave him just for a moment or two. After a little more chat he seemed to feel better, Mr Oliver took his leave, and some little while after. Captain Morris. Scarcely had he" done so when the messengers in their room heerd a faint, muffled sound of a bell that failed to ring, for lack of strength in the hand pressing the button at the other end. Captain Morris was quickly back in the room and Sir Harry was found in a state of Collapse. Mr Oliv ei 1 ;, Who was communicated with, found Dr Grace in the building, and the doctor was at his old Mend's side in a moment. But it was too late.