The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1901. THE LATE SIR H. A. ATKINSON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 252, 25 October 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1901. THE LATE SIR H. A. ATKINSON.

Probably there is no part of NewZea--15 land more entitled to do honour to the 29 late Sir H. A. Atkinson than New Plymouth. Sir Harry, or as he was best known, Major Atkinson, was one of the greatest of the number of great statesmen, who manfully played their part and helped to lay the foundations e r of the colony during tbe first fifty years of its existence. He was to all intents and purposes a New Plymouth man, and not only defended the town very gallantly during the native troubles . fJ but took a leading part in the settle--1 ment of the surrounding district at the close of the war. As a settler, as a soldier, and as a statesmau, Sir Harry rendered great and lasting service to New Plymouth, and Taranaki in parla, ticular, as well as the colony in general. 3a ", Tet a stranger may come to Few Plyn*i mouth and spend days here and never ' linow that such a man had lived. This

is anything but creditable to the jwople of New Plymouth, and some- ' thing should be done to perpetuate the , memory of the public services of this , [jreat man of whom New Plymouth is t justly entitled to be proud. We are * induced to make these remarks by the ! event of last week, »hea Captiin Rus- , sell, in "Wellington, unveiled a marble i bust of this departed statesman. The < Parliamentary special of one of our j southern contemporaries says: —" The bust of Sir Harry Atkinson, subscribed ( for by his old constituents of Egraont, i is of white marble, the work of the ( well-known sculptor Pegram, and it is ' a speaking likeness, so spnaking as to j be startling. The artist has reproduced i the features and character completely— ' the square forehead with its shaggy ' eyebrows, the great bead with the huge shock of hair, the rugged, curling thick beard and heavy moustache, the , resolute face, and the poise of the head ' on the shoulders. It is far and away ■ • the best bust in the colony. On its neat ' pedestal of Carrara marble, it will ba an 1 ornament to the Parliamentary Library. - The cost, .£l7O, was defrayed by the , constituents, and there is a replica in • plaster for fiawero. The bust when . unpacked created a great sensation, ' particularly amoeg the older Purlia , mentarians, who crowded round with ' great interest, old friends and old 1 antagonists standing silent and wistful. ; It was a pathetic sight. There is no i , disagreement among them now. It is < I easy to see how they were united in ' their homage to one of the strongest personalities that ever took part in the making of the history of this country. The rush of memories that came to us who had seen the strong man at his 1 best, in his bravest days, was over- . powering. It seems but yesterday that the awe-stricken voice of the then Speaker (Major Steward) announced his sudden death in tbe other place, but yesterday that we looked our last on him as he lay at test on his bed in the alcove, but here was tbe face once more before us. Wo owe it to his constituents that it will be slways before up, remindiLg us of his faithful service, his energetic, unsparing will, his noble sense of duty, and his high courage ; reminding us in a word of tbo grand example of that unselfish, devoted life." Is it not a grave reflection on tbe people of New Plymouth that not even a replica of this bust has been secured for the local public library ; no tablet exists, and no suitable monument has been erected in the town that owes so much to him ? True, it may be said that *• his memory lives in tbe hearts of the people," but one has only to look at the death-roll for the past twelve months to see how soon all those who knew him will have passed nway. What is wanted is a visible recognition of his wot th, something the children, those who have the future of our colony in their hands, can see, and to whom it will ba an inceptive to emulate his grand example. Why should not one of our squares be orr ameritpd wi'h a monument that will hand his memory down to posterity, and show that his services were valued in his day nnd generation, In Wanganui people of all classes joined in erecting a splendid ■ monument to their fellow townsman, ' 'the late John Billar.ce, a great statesi man and patriot. The people of this district will honour themsslves nnd b-< "" performing a public and national duty in following that example by recognisiD<* the greatness of Sir Harry Albert Atkinson, the good settler, the ?- brave soldier, the able statesman, and the noble patriot.