PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1921, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

TARANAKI'S GREAT MAN, SIR HARRY ATKINSON. (By “Juvenis.”) (Continued from Last Saturday.) Reference was made in the article last week to the incessant duty of the Forest Rangers. It was that incessant work whieh wore the enemy out. For the regular troops they did not care so much, because, as they said, “you lead a redcoat into the bush half a mile, turn him round and he is lost.” Against the regular in the forest and fern the Maori, with his short double barrelled gun and his superior local knowledge and his practised celerity of movement, was a very formidable adversary. But the settler, as Forest Ranger, was as quick as the Maori; he know the country every bit as well, he could subsist on what the country afforded. So it was not surprising that he turned the tables on the Maori, and the Maori hated him with a hatred which he felt for no redcoat.

Among the more brilliant exploits of Atkinson’s Rangers are the capture of Kaitake Pah. the Battle of Allen’s Hill, and the operations at Manutahi. The pah had been besieged by Colonel VVarre, after that coo) reconaissance jot Captain Mace, and battered with artillery for some time, when the Rangers -found their way round tc/ the back, and having made their dispositions under their usual skilful leading, very soon got possession, with small loss.

RANGERS DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES. At Allen's Hill they distinguished themselves greatly. Colonel Warre had got to grips with a superior force of thfe enemy, which at last drove him out of his position. The dead and wounded were collected in a dip in the ground, and the Colonel and his men were hard pressed. A message was sent for the Forest Rangers, who mustered under their chief with their accustomed alacrity. Four miles they had to go, and the •four miles were covered at “the double/' no mean feat of endurance; but for men between 20 and 25 in hard training, flying light in the matter of baggage, not by any means an impossibility. To them doubling out on the track came messenger after messenger with word of urgency. The last of them reached the column as it was breasting the slope up to the position held by the wearied Goth. Their commander made answer that his men were blown, but thev would soon be there.

And there they were sure enough; through the dip they doubled, past the dead and the dying; into the cover they bounded, extending as they went right and left, and getting into the line took up the fire with great vigor and epergy. driving off the enemy with heavy loss. As the latter halted sullenly on the old position they had taken from the 65th, ihey shouted derisive and insulting cries to our people. The commander oi the Forest Rangers made a formal request to be allowed to attack them with his men, and declared himself sure of retaking the position. But the Colonel was of a different opinion, and declined, to the great disappointment of the brave force which had done such an amazing afternoon’s work. Having drawn off, they returned with their relieved comrades to New Plymouth, lamenting. FOUGHT LIKE VETERANS. At Manutahi they fought like veterans, and were led with consummate skill. Soon after, the campaign ended, Captain Atkinson came out of it with a well deserved reputation, and the title of Major, by whieh he was affectionately known by thousands to the day of his death. He was frequently mentioned in despatches, his gallantry and skill at Allen’s Hill being particularly recorded. and he received the thanks of the Government of the day. No one who has read these particulars, which inadequately outline the great work he did in this strenuous campaign, can fail to wonder at the strength of his popularity in Taranaki, which he had saved from destruction.

It was years afterwards that the old military fire blazed up again in his breast. It was in 1887 or 1888, when Te Kooti was moving in Poverty Bay and measures had to be taken for his suppression. Sir Harry went himself to Gisborne, personally directed from there the movements of the Constabulary, who averted the trouble. He fixed all the to be occupied, and traced the routes and appointed the times for marching and arrival. His great regret was that he could not accompany the men on the march as he used to do of old. But the heavy hand of sickness was on him. and he had to be content with giving directions. HIS ENTRY INTO POLITICS.

• Tn 1863 he entered Parliament, and ! was very soon a member of Cabinet. ■ His portfolio, naturally, was that of Dei fence. It was in Mr. Weld’s Ministry, j and self-reliance was the policy. No man did more than Major Atkinson to make that policy acceptable to the col- < onists, for the, simple reason that no ’ man had done more to prove the capaei ity of the settlers to rely upon themselves. In his speeches he by no means I minimised the difficulties of the posi- ! tion. The Maori prisoners had escaped | from Kawau, the Hau-Hau fanaticism i was making great strides, life and pro- | perty in many districts were unsfe. All i this he admitted freely without attempt at extenuation. Instead of extenuating ; the danger, his bold spirit grappled it. He spoke as a born leader of men. utj tering words of moving power that re- • main for ever in the minds of the hear- ' ers. “Whatever may be England’s duty I in the matter,” he said, “our duty is to face .difficulties and overcome them, and thus by our votes on this Bill show to the country that we are prepared to undertake the work. And relying on Cod’s strength, let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” What wonderful words—the words of a true and noble man.

The Ministry ceased to exist in 1565, the same year that these noble words of the man who had the best right in New Zealand to utter them were giver, to the public. But the spirit of self-re-liance was awakened, and became the mainspring of the colonial policy. From 1&>8 to 1873 Major Atkinson was not in Parliament. FINANCIAL ABILITY. Tn the latter year he was returned, and two years later he was Colonial Treasurer under the Premiership of lb - Pollen. In that year he introduce 1 the Abolition Bill, for which the famous resolutions in 1874 had prepared the country. On that occasion he performed the feat of doing three big things. Ho made his Financial Statement, he introduced the Abolition Bill, and he brought [down the Financial Arrangements Bill. TUe SUiement astonished everybody.

Major Atkinson had given no sign of financial ability, and apparently had no experience of the Treasury business. •But he produced a Financial Statement which, coming so soon after the masterly efforts of Sir Julius Vogel, won encomiums for its author. Its delivery stamped him as one having a strong grip of the public accounts, and that reputation remained with him to the end, increasing with every Statement he delivered, and with every one of the many financial discussions in which he •was engaged. The public finance indeed owed him much, for he did much to simplify the accounts, and to bring them within the reach of the popular understanding.

As a financier his name stood higher than it docs in any other department of the political service of which he contributed so large a share. His Financial Statements were distinguished for vast research and great, labor. He was always looking ahead and thinking out the great problem waiting for solution at the hands of men entrusted with power. Indeed, the key to the understanding of his political career his acceptance of power as a sacred trust, and a heavy responsibility. He had

quickly discerned the tendency of the most capable modern thought, and he labored to keep abreast of it, that he might be of use to his fellow men who

had entrusted him with the duty of governing them. Of loans it was his fortune to be the frequent parent. With the expenditure of millions his name is associated. In consequence he had to endure strong criticism, but events have shown that the expenditure was just and equitable.

ABOLITION. Abolition imposed upon him a. great strain; there were the difficulties in the House, where an active and able section opposed him — most able section that has ever been got together in New Zealand by pressure of political emergency; and there were the difficulties of the ‘change, which were colossal. The Financial Arrangements Act, which facilitated'that change, was much decried; tne Counties Act. which represented a great deal of the reconstruction, was criticised widely and . deeply. The Harbor Acts, the Roads and Bridges Act, and a host of other measures which felt the impress of his busy, enquiring, remarkably powerful brain, all had their detractors. But when one looks back at the work, when one considers the numerous difficulties, when one realises the vast multiplicity of the details one is forced to wonder that the friction was so little and the failures so few. The great fact that the Constitution to which the people had grown accustomed was changed entirely and completely in so brief a period, with so little damage to the public interest, speaks volumes tor the industry and genius of the plan upon whom devolved the task of carrying the change into effect.

HIS PARLIAMENTARY CAREER. In 1876 Major Atkinson was Minister of Crown Lands and Immigration, and on the retirement of Sir Julius Vogel to the Agent-Generalship, became Premier and Colonial Treasurer. In 1877 he was defeated by Sir George Grey, who held office till October, 1879. Then Mr. Hail defeated Sir George, and assumed' the Premiership with Major Atkinson as Treasurer. In 1884 the Major became Premier, succeeding Sir Frederic Wnitaker, only to fall before the attack of Major Steward, who was backed by rne discontent caused by the graiir rates on the southern railways, lie appealed to the country, and Sir Julius Vogel and Sir Robert Stout were returned with the new House, which contained an unprecedented number of new members. The new combination was backed by the Midland Railway agitation, and by the desire for change, the outcome of a long depression; and it trusted to the reputations of Sir Julius Vogel and Sir Robert Stout. It proved too strong for Major Atkinson, who led the Opposition with skill and vigor until 1887. when the turn of the wheel again placed him at the head of affairs. In the interval he had the pleasure of congratulating Sir Robert Stout on his Knighthood, and of receiving the country’s congratulations upon his own reception of that honor. It Avas a matter of general surprise that he had not received it sooner.

RETRENCHMENT PROBLEM. In 1887 Sir Harry Atkinson attacked a difficult piece of work. His colleagues being new to rhe business, much work devolved upon him. A deficit stared him in the face, money was wanted fpr public works, the revenue had to be materially strengthened and the country was resounding with the “roar cf retrenchment.” It was a complication of work, and the House was unusually difficult to manage. But of all the work, nothing' pressed so hard on Sir Harry’s generous spirit as the work of retrenchment. To him it was awful. The soldier who had attended to the wants of his comrades in arms with a tenderness which could not have been greater had they been his children, felt keenly the cruelty of the task before him. His spirit was broken, the worries lot that terriDic duty, and the increased burden of the Premiership at. difficult time, told on his physique. Gradually his strength gave way. and very reluctantly he had to retire from active Parliamentary an<l Ministerial duty. FAILING HEALTH. A trip to Hobart, from which ranch was expected, in 'ISS9 failed to restore him. and the session nf 18!K> saw him a wreck. - After the defeat of his party in the elections of 1890. he retired with the general sympathy of the Colony to the Speakership of the Legislative Council. ft. was widely regretted at the time that the Colony had nothing better to offer as a right to the man who had spent his life in the public service w’ith such high distinction. He went to Sydney to represent the Colony at the Federation Conference, and all hoped he would benefit by the' change. But he returned without, ini- ; proveinent, and set himself quietly to wait for the end. which he knew could : not be far off. He faced the position I with steadfast courage. Thousands ’ knew how calmly he faced death in the field, even the first time he passed under j fire The whole Colony admired the cheer- ; •ful brave spirit which ho had brought to ; bear on the two most difficult situations J in our history; the situation of afi'asrsj preceding the withdrawal of the Irnper- ; ia) troops, and the long period of com- ' mercial depression through so great i 1 part of which he was entrusted with the. duty of piloting the Colony through its | troubles. t , i He died as he had lived, a noble, high-‘ minded man, with faith in his fellows and in God. ft need only be added that. the. indomitable courage and perseverance., the great readiness of resource, the high , principle and the commanding abilities > which distinguished him as a leader in the field, carried him to the highest ■ position in Ihe service of his country-j men and justified their confidence. H j was a full and splendid life, one of sorvice and sncr’ficn. which he found to be then, as it is to dav. the true way of Itf. I