The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1888. THE ATKINSON BLIGHT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1718, 31 March 1888, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1888. THE ATKINSON BLIGHT.

.Iff our last issue we published an extract from a letter written by Mr Reeves, M.H.E. The letter holds that Sir Harry Atkinson contemplates taking over the New Plymouth harbor works, and constituting them Colonial works, and thus place the burden of carrying them out on the shoulders of the whole of New Zealand. Since then we have come across a rather lengthy article written by Mr Philip Maguire, who opposed Sir Harry Atkinson at the last election. It has been published in the Wanganui Herald, and it gives the history of the New Plymouth harbor from the beginning to the present, together with a bit of Sir Harry's biography, which is beautifully characteristic of him. In 1873 Mr Maguire says Sir Harry and Mr Oarrington opposed each other for the Superintendency of Taranaki, with the result that a bitter feeling sprang .up between them. Mr Carrington was elected, but Sir Harry became a member of the Provincial Council, and thenceforward he made things lively for the Superintendent. He was leader of the Opposition, and all the bitteraess of the election contest was imported into the opposition which he offered, until the Provincial Secretaryship became vacant. Forsaking his friends and forgetting his animosity to the Superintendent, he at once accepted the vacant position, to the astonishment of everybody, atd became the pliable tool of the party he opposed before. This is just like Sir Harry. He would sell party, principles, and friendship for the sake of offioe. It was then that the harbor improvements were mooted. Tbo harbor was endowed with 25 per cent, of the land fund, and power was given to it to borrow £350,000 on the security of a rate of 2s in the £. Sir Harry got this passed by representing that a rate would never be required. The provinces were abolished, but the provisions made respecting the harbor remained undisturbed till in 1877 the Liberal Government of Sir George Grey reduced the borrow ing powers of the Board from £350,000 to £200,000, and their rating power to Is instead of 2s in the £. Thus Mr Maguire holds that it is to a Liberal Government the Taranaki people owe being released from heavier burdens. It would not interest our readers to go through all the details given, further than to say that again in 1881 Sir Harry Atkinson hoodwinked the people by showing them plainly that they would not have to pay any tax on account of the harbor for 24 years, and that then they would have to pay only 3d in the £, aud through the operation of the Sinking Fund the debt would be altogether extinguished in 30 years. Thus by such delusive promises Sir Harry was able to hoodwink, the Taranaki people until the fatal day came, three years ago, when they had not only 3d in the £ to pay, .but Is 3d in the £. Sir Harry has, therefore, run the length of his tether in Taranaki. The people there are groaning under the weight of a tax of Is 3d in the £, which they have to pay through his mismanagement, and he evidently is anxious t« square matters with them by removing the burden from their shoulders to those of the whole colony. , This rate, which the people j>ay there is called the "Atkinson bight," and there can be very little doubt but Sir Harry will make an Attempt'to remove it, as Mr Jtteeves pointed out. So much is to be gathered from the concluding sentence of Mr Maguire'a article, for he says that he rejoices in Sir Harry's conversion, and fondly hopes to see the "monument of his Apolitical humbug taken over by the colony." What will our friends the Atkinsonians down here say when they have to pay their share of the New Plymouth Harbor Board tax at well as their own? They will doubtless find it 'rpleaaant!

Nbw Zealanders in Melbouhnk.—A correspondent writing from Melbourne to I the Evening Pres« Bays;—The influx of New Zealanders into Melbourne ntiM co - tiouep. The Tarawera bad a full eaioon and 115 etserage, nearly all Jfouug, eii»\getic, «nd able men, who have corns hern determined to try their fortunes. Ti.fy ar» « to New Zetland, and a decided acquisition to iy>to/ifl, A similar complement arrive* weekly, i