The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3704, 7 January 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1891.

Sir Hakby Atkinson has been depicted as a schemer for the AgentGeneralship, and as a self-seeking politician who is endeavouring to secure a fat sinecure for himself, but does not his long and honorable career in this colnny giv? the lie to such slanders. If he were the rascally politician that some people are shameless enough to term him, would he in in his old age retire from office a poorer man than when he first entered Parliament a generation ago? He has made mistakes in his time, —who haß not ? but a sense of duty to the colony has always been a marked trait it) bis character, and to it he has sacrificed his streSg'b- llis health, and his means, In the course he has taken since the elections, nqthing Jjas been said or done by him inconsistent wjth the trust he owes by virtue of his position to the colony. That trust, no doubt, he will shortly surrender, but till the time comes when he can do so with a clear conscience he stands firm and heeds little the aspersions with which he is assailed on every side. His continuation in power is now perhaps a matter of a few weeks, but no fair-minded man believes that he would cully the Jast scene in his career as a party leader, or Premier, by any Unworthy action. Mentally he is still a giant, though physically he is a wrepk, and the opposition clamcrous for place and power are still afraid of him. Rumors are set afloat as to improper compacts made between him and Sir Dillon Bell, the present Agent*General, but there is little confidence to be placed in them. Sir Dillon Bell is not the man to play a part in an intrigue with Sir Harry Atkinson, or anyone else, and we do not suppose there is any better authority for the supposed compact than the man in the street. If, in the interests of the colony, it should be found desirable that Sir Harry should take the AgentGeneralship, we venture to say that the appointment will be endorsed by politicians on both sides of the House. The present occupant of this office has been a most admirable and exemplary public servant, and is entitled to every consideration at the hands of the colony, but shoujd be retire or refrain from seeking a renewal of his appointment, there can be no doubt that Sir tea head and shoulders

above any other successor who could possibly be named. The leaders of the oppositiou party, men like Sir Rober*. Stout and Mr Ballancp, would do him this justice, it is only the rabble of the party who bark at him open mouthed and kick a sick man whom they would never have dared to stand up and face when his health permitted him to take his scat in the House.