Reminiscence of the Late Sir Harry Atkinson.

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 707, 16 July 1892, Page 2

Reminiscence of the Late Sir Harry Atkinson.

The Hon. Dr Grace, M.L.C., who waß Staff Assistant Sargeon to the Imperial forces during the first Taranaki War, when the late Sir H. A. Atkinson so greatly distinguished himself as a volunteer captain, tells the following story of his departed friend : - When General Pratt assembled his forces at three o'clock in the morning for the purpose of attacking Maboetahi, there was no indication of the colonial forces at the appointed hour, and he accordingly left a space in the column for the colonial forces, and sent Deputy Quartermaster-General Colonel Carey to inquire whnre the men were that they expected to parade on that occasion. Those men were represented solely by Oaplais Atkinson. He stood forth singly, an though he alone were competent to fill up the blank in the advancing column, and, when challenged by Colonel Carey in relation to the absence of his men, I well remember his turning round and saying, ' Colonel Carey, tell the General to give the order to march. I will answer for my men. The column shall be filled up, and when the proper time comes they will give a satisfactory account of themselves.' I am sorry to say that it was with a feeling

somewhat approaching contempt that Major-General Pratt gave the order, to march, "intentionally leaving a vacant space in the advancing column, himself, I am afraid, actuated by a strong feeling which he might have'expressed by saying, where in the world was-the value of those fellows whom he was always abusing ? Captain Atkinson knew that the men were then on duty, and we Btarted to the attack. In reality they were all -armed and all ready, lying perdu amongst the hedges and ditcheß, and the Lord knows what else; and as the column advanced these men trooped up in a close phalanx, extremely rough looking, of course, but really valuable soldiers. When we arrived at Mahoetahi Captain Atkinson stepped forward and said, 'now, General, I claim the honor of the attack ; ' and on that occasion he had the honour of demonstrating the reliability of our colonial forces ; and if any one had seen the brilliancy of that attack, and the gallantry with which he led his forces, he would have been filled with enthusiatic admiration, as I was myself.'