The Evening Star MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7432, 30 January 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1888.

The news that the Honorable Harry Albert Atkinson has been j' created a Knight Commander in Honor, the Order of St. Michael and St. George will, we are sure, be received with satisfaction throughout the Colony. Sir Harry has fairly won his spurs; and 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. One of the early settlers in Taranaki, he bore the burden and heat of the day. His military title he earned by hard fighting in the Waitara War, where he specially distinguished himself by that audacity in the face of the enemy which has been one of his leading characteristics in politics. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1861, Major Atkinson—the familiar designation by which up to to-day he has been known—at once made his mark ; and in 1804, when Mr (now Sir) Frederick A. 'Veld defeated the Whitaker - Fo.v Ministry, the then important portfolio of Minister of Colonial Defence was entrusted to him.- The Weld Ministry had, however, but a short tenure of office, being succeeded in October, 1865, by Mr .Stafford, and what was then called Ids job lot of colleagues. Subsequently to this date Major Atkinson was for some time in the Home Country, but on his return immediately re-entered Parliament, and at the end of the session of 1574 joined the \ ogkl Ministry as Colonial Treasurer, Secretary of Crown Lands, and Minister of Immigration. He held these offices until September, 1876, when, on the appointment of Sir Julius as Agent-General, he became Premier, continuing, how'ever, to hold the office of Treasurer. In October the following year Ministers were defeated, and Sir George Grey formed that remarkable Administration the mischief of which has long outlived its existence. Fortunately for the Colony, Sir George’s tenure of power only lasted two years. In the then state of parties (October, 1879) Major Atkinson waived his claims to the Premiership and took office under Sir John Hall with the portfolio of Treasurer. The Whitaker Ministry succeeded, in which he held the same position ; and at the end of 1883, on the resignation of Sir Frederick, he again became Premier. Early in 1884 Sir Julius Vogel returned to the Colony, and the Stout-Vogel coalition was arranged, which upset the Government in August of the same year, and contrived by hook or by crook to retain power until rejected by the constituencies in September, 1887. It is unnecessary to refer to the history of last session, suffice it to say that the new Ministry have acted, and are acting, up to the principles on which they assumed office, and are laboriously devoting themselves to the arduous and unthankful task of economic reform. When we consider his record—which it has been our endeavor briefly to sketch—and the good service (all will admit) that the Premier has over so long a series of years done to the State, it cannot but be thought that recognition has been long delayed. The titular honors bestowed by the Crown on distinguished colonists have never been more worthily conferred than on Sir Harry Atkinson, who, we sincerely hope, has still a long period of usefulness before him.