DEATH OF SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2376, 30 June 1892, Page 2

DEATH OF SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

WEllington, June 28’ When the death of Sir H. A. Atkinson was announced by the Speaker this afternoon a most profound sensation was , caused throughout the whole of the Parliamentary buildings. It appears that j this afternoon the Council adjourned ’ soon after assembling out of respect to the memory of the late Sir F. Whitaker, Mr Fulton, and Mr Martin. After leaving the chair Sir Harry Atkinson went to his own room, accompanied by the Hon. Mr Oliver. Captain Mornis entered shortly afterwards, when a general chat was indulged in. One of the two visitors complimented Sir Harry on the improved state of his health, but Sir Harry replied that although he might be looking well he had received his marching orders. Mr Oliver shortly afterwards left the room, and Sir Harry went into his inner room. Captain Morris then noticed something ■wrong with Sir Harry, and ran out to obtain Mr Oliver’s assistance. They fortunately caught Dr Grace ns he was entering his carriage. He returned to Sir Harry’s room, where the body was found stretched out, Dr Grace pronouncing life to be extinct. Death was the result of heart disease, for which the deceased had been under medical treatment for some time past. In consequence of the death of Sir . Harry Atkinson, Lady Glasgow’s dinner . party at Government house this was postponed. The flags on the shipping, the business houses, and the Consulates, were lowered E 4-" half mast as a mark of respect to the emory of the deceased. At the request of the Governor, it lias been decided to pub off the ball in his honor till Monday in consequence of Sir H. Atkinson’s death. This will involve considerable loss, as all the preparations were completed.

Sir Harry Atkinson was horn in Cheshire, in 1831, and with his brother (the late Decimus Atkinson) arrived in the Colony about 1855, and settled in Taranaki, where they purchased a quantity of bush land. Prior to their arrival, some uncertainty existed as to the peaceable character of the Natives of the district. Their constant demands on the Government, and the visible change in their behaviour towards the Pakcha, induced the settlers to accept the oiler of an Indian officer, Major Lloyd, to give them lessons in drill, so that in care of an outbreak, they might lie able to work together under their officers for the protection of their wives and children. When the war began in earnest, tlul Colonists of Taranaki found the valueyiik, the drill they had received, and, having* something to fight for, were always to be found where danger threatened. The young men of the district were as thoroughly used to bush life, and as much at home in the forests of New Zealand, as the Natives themselves. Forming themselves into a company of bushrangers, they chose Mr Atkinson aa their captain. The first action fought by the Colonial troops was at Waireka, on March 28, 1860, where their behaviour elicited tho admiration of tho whole Colony, they being the first under fire and the last to leave the field. After this Major Atkinson was present at the taking of several pahs—at Kaihihi in October, 1860, the battle of Mahoetahi on Nov. 6 of the same year, and the battle of Matiirikoriko i-nW the following month. Ho also assisted in the capture of Kaitoke on March 24, 1854, the several skirmishes at Sentry Hill, the recovery of the wounded and killed at Ahuahu. After the defeat of . the Imperial ti’oops, the battle of Alien's Hill at Potokou, and the taking of tip*

paths and strongholds at Manutalu and Mataitawa, having 150 men under his command who would follow him anywhere, his company was actively employed in clearing the bush and district of rebel natives. .For his gallant services in the field he was promoted to the rank of Major, was repeatedly mentioned in despatches, and on several occasions received the thanks of the Government of the day. Colonel Warne in his despatches said that Major Atkinson possessed the energy and perseverance requisite to make him a first-rate Guerilla leader. Honourable and successful as was the military cnreer of Sir Harry Atkinson, it was as a politician more than as a soldiei that he made his mark on the history of his time. He entered Parliament in 1863, and on the formation of the Weld Ministry in November, 1864, he took office as Minister for Defence. The portfolio was not by any means a sinecure, as the country was in the midst of the Native War, and the Government had decided to adopt the ,£ self-reliant ” policy of fighting the battles of the Colony without the aid of Imperial troops. The Defence Minister stated the Government position by saying, “We do not require your troops a day longer, and we do not mean to pay for them. * _* * Whatever may be England’s duty in the matter, our duty is to face difficulties and overcome them. On Oct. 16, 1865 the Weld Government went out of office, but the “self-reliant policy,” was continued by its successor, the Ministry of Mr Stafford. Major Atkinson continued to show the deep and intelligent interest in Defence And Native affairs that had distinguished him when in office. In 1874 he joined the Vogel Ministry as Secretary for Crown Lands and Minister for Immigration. When the Ministry was reconstituted under Dr Pollen in July of the following year, Major Atkinson took, in addition, the portfolio of Colonial Treasurer. In February, 1876, the Cabinet was reconstucted a second time, when Sir Julius Vogel, the Premier, took the office of Colonial Treasurer, while Major Atkinson was Secretary for Crown Lands, Commissioner of Customs and Minister for immigration. This Ministry introduced the abolition of Provinces Bill, the second reading of which, moved by Major Atkinson, was passed by the House of Representatives by a majority of 35. The Bill passed through all its stages and became law in the session of 1876. On Sept. 1 of that year another reconstruction of the Ministry took ptace consequent on Sir Julius Vogel taking the position of Agent-General.» Major Atkinson now became Premier and Colonial Treasurer, to which offices he afterwards added those of Secretary for Crown Lands and Minister for Immigration. The Ministry held office till October 13, 1877, when in consequence of the House having passed a vote of no confidence, on the motion of Mr W. J. M Larnach, Major Atkinson, and his colleagues tendered their resignations. Two days later the Grey Government was formed. Two years afterwards, in October, 1879, Sir George Grey’s Cabinet gave place to that of the Hon. John Hall, in which Major Atkinson held offices as Colonial Treasurer, Commissioner of Customs, and Commissioner of Stamp, Duties. He took the same portfolios with the addition of that of Minister of Marine, when the Ministry was reconstructed in 1882, under the late Sir F. Whitaker. In September, 1883, the latter gentleman resigned, and the Cabinet was reconstituted, with Major Atkinson as Premier and Minister for the departments over which he presided in the Whitaker Government. He held office

till August, 1884, when, in the Parliamentary struggles which preceded the return of Sir Julius Vogel to power, there were three changes of Government in about a fortnight. The Atkinson Government having vacated office, Sir Julius Vogel on Aug. 16 formed a Cabinet, which lasted till Aug. 28, when Major Atkinson regained power for a few days, and held the positions of Premier and Commissioner of Stamps till Sept. 3, when the Stout-Vogel Ministry came into office., The last-named Government held

power for three years, but the general election of 1887 was unfavorable to it, and lon Oct. 9 of that year Major Atkinson iagain became Premier. In his last he held, though not all at f one time, no fewer than eight portfolios. In 1888 his services were recognised by his receiving the Knighthood of St. Michael and St. George. In 1890 the general election resulted in the return of a majority of members opposed to the policy of the Government, and particularly to the Property Tax, which Sir H. Atkinson had introduced on

taking office after the defeat of the Grey Government. Parliament met in January,

1891, and on Jan. 23 Sir H. Atkinson resigned at once his membership for Egraont and his Premiership. He was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council. His health had, for a considerable time, been failing, and it was hoped that in the comparative calm of the Upper Chamber it might be restored, a hope which, unfortunately, was destined not to be realised. A notice of Sir Harry Atkinson would be incomplete without reference to the system of national insurance, of which he was an ardent advocate. It was in 1883 that he introduced into New Zealand the proposal for a scheme of national insurance on the plan advocated )in England by the llev. Lewery Blackley. LNot only did he advocate this in his njjlace in Parliament, but, with the persistency which was a dominating feature of his whole life, he visited all the leading centres of population in the colony, and delivered lectures in the hope of educating the people and their representatives in a knowledge of the subject, and of one day making the system part of tlje law of the ColonyThe Hare system of the representation of minorities was another project of which 'he was an earnest and able advocate. Indeed, whatever he believed to be for the good of the Colony found in him an advocate both able and zealous. His industry was great, too great perhaps, for it is probable that he might have . lived longer had he not worked so hardHis personal character was such as to V secure him general respect during his fife, and widespread regret at his death.— ■ Lyttelton Times.