SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3720, 27 January 1891, Page 2

SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Sir Herry Albert Atkinson's political life commenced in 1861, when he was elected to represent the district of Grey and Bell in the House of Eepresentatives. He was not long in making himself felt in Parliament for in 1864, when Mr (now Sir Frederick A. Weld defeated the Whitaker-Fox Ministry, the then important portfolio of Minister of Colonial Defence was entrusted to him. The Weld Ministry hud, however, but a short tenure of office, being succeeded in October, 1865, bv Mr Stafford, and what was then called his job lot of colleagues. Sir Harry Atkinson resigned his seat in the House in 1809, and was for soma time in the Home Country, but on hia return immediately ment in 1873, and at the enflßlHhe session of 1874 joinod the Yogel Ministry as Colonial Treasurer, Secretary of Crown Lands, and Minister of Immigration. Ho hold these offices until September, 1876, when, on the appointment of Sir Julius Vogel as Agent-General, he became Premier, continuing,however to hold the office of Treasurer. In .j. ~" October the following year Ministers were, defeated, and Sir George Grey ***""" formed that remarkable Administration the mischief of which has long outlived its existence. Fortunatoly, for the colony, Sir George's tenure of ! poweronly lasted two years. In the then state of parties (October, 1870), Major Atkinson waived his claims to' the Premiership and took office - under Sir John Hall with the Portfolio of Treasurer. The Whitaker Ministry suoceeded, in which he held the same position, and at the end of 1888, on the resignation of Sir Frederick, he again becamo Premier. Early in 1884 Sir Julius Vogel returned, to the Colony, and (iho Stout-Vogol coalition was arranged, which upset the Government in August of the samo year.and. coawived by hook or orook to retain

power, until Sir .Robert Stout, the Premier was rejected by bis constituency in September, iSB7. Sir Harry, on October Bth, formed a Ministry, of which he was Premier, which has existed up to the present time. Amongst the New Year's honors bestowed by the Crown in 1888, the Premier of New Zealand was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George—and never was it more e worthily conferred than on Sir Harry * Atkinson, for no man in the Australasian Colonies can point to so long a career *of public service, during which he has borne a character absolutely without reproach.

Wo Can. Only Say rtat His Initials are "JD."

When a woman travels ten miles merely to ask a few questions we may assume that her curiosity is excited. In the year 1883, a story went forth from Leverstock Green, Hamel Hempstead, Herts, which aroused great interest in all the region thereabout. People cime from various directions to enquire into the matter: what was alleged to have occurred had to do mostly with one man. If the story turned out to be true some good was likely to come of it; if false, it would only put the community more on their guard against all sorts of wild rumours. Among the women who were bound to foundation of it was one from StrrWbans and a cook from Langley. How strangely things work out in this queer world. Seven years have passed and the facts are now to become generally public for the first time. It appears that about the first of January, 1883, an old resident of the place above named was said, and commonly believed, to be in a dying condition. For five months an able and clever physician had been attending him constantly, no medical man could have done more. His ailment was decided

to be gout and rheumatism, which are held to bo practically the same -malady differently located. Well, this began back in -July, ISB2. As time ran along the patient grew worse. The doctor's ability and experience didn't seem to count. The sufferer's ankles, feet, and hands became badly swollen. We all know this must have been a scary symptom because that the fluids of hia body (and the body is nearly all fluid anyway)—instead of being carried off as they naturally should be, were flowing over their channels and inundating <!he parts around them, just as a stream does after heavy rains. The doctor said the danger of this Btateof things lay in the fact that when the water reached liie heart or lungs it might end In sudden death. The cause of dropsy is the refusal of the kidneys to carry off the water ; so much is plain. But what makes .the kidneys strike work ? We" no v know the reason of that. It is because, they are partially paralysed by a .poison in the blood, arising from undigested food in the stomach. In plain English, a chronic Btate of indigestion and dyspepsia was responsible for results which now threatened our unknown friend's lite. It was reported—and of its truth there isn't a doubt—that his abdomen was blown like a bladder on account of the water which soaked all through his flesh. In conversation a few weeks ago, he said " Allniy friend's bow looked upon me as a dying man." And reasonably enough too ; for what chance is there for a man who is gradually drowning in this way ?—For that is what it was— drowning and nothing else in the world. Medicine appeared to be of ao use, and the physician sug gested that possibly the poor man might be benefitted if he could go away from home and try the baths, mineral waters, and'change of scene and air. But nobody believed in that plan, and in honest tiuth, it is hardly likely that the wise I

physician believed in it himself. At all v events the idea wasn't put into practice, * About this time the patient's wife happened to be in the shop of a chemist nt Hempstead, and he gave her a little book, and said she might like to read it. She did read it, and found it a full ~ description of the very complaint that was last sending her husband to the grave, and also the name of what was asserted to be a remedy for it. After some trouble 3he got him to consent to try it, and Bent for a bottle.. He began, and kept it np for four months, taking twenty six bottles altogether. .At the end of that time he waß a well, sound man, and is so to-day. The whole neighborhood was amazed. His recovery, when he had been looked upon as no better than a dead man, set tonpues wagging all round the country. He now says r " I should not have been here now, it it had not been for Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup." Our friend requests us not to publish his full name, but say we may print hia initials, which are " J.D." Address : Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. He will answer letters.