ANOTHER PAGE OF UNWRITTEN NEW ZEALAND HISTORY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11848, 22 July 1893, Page 1

ANOTHER PAGE OF UNWRITTEN NEW ZEALAND HISTORY.

(Special correspondent Otago Daily Times.) London, June 2. Most people will probably bo surprised to learn that the present Minister for Education (Mr W. P. Beeves) was very near being offered a seat in tho last Atkinson Ministry, and that tho advisablcuess of this step was very carefully considered by the late Sir Harry Atkinson, who for party reasons came very reluctantly to a decision in the negative. I don't suppose anybody in New Zealand has the least idea that such a courso was ever even dreamt of. Yet such undoubtedly is the fact. My informant is no less a person that Sir William Jervois, who was Governor of Now Zealand at the time.and who himself suggested to Sir Harry Atkinson that Mr Reoves should be offered a seat in the Ministry. How it came about was in this way : Sir William Jervoia had formed a very high opinion of the ability and debating power of the young Chrißtchurch member, and thought his inolußion would tend to strengthen the now Government. He felt very strongly the importance of having a powerful and stable Administration at the juncture when the finances and credit of tho colouy had fallen to a low ebb and needed vigorously rehabiliting. Acting, therefore, on what he deemed his duty in tho interests of tho Queen's Government, Sir William sent for Sir Harry Atkinson arid advised him to offer a portfolio to Mr Reeves for the reason that his cleverness and debating skill would render him a useful acquisition to the Government. There was nothing at that time in tho position of politics or party which would have made it an act of apostasy for Mr Beeves to have accepted such an offer. Sir Robert Stout, the leader of his side, had disappeared from political life through his defeat for Dunedin, and for a time there was no regular party or leader, while Sir Harry Atkinson was supposed to be acting in the interests of all sides in forming a Ministry at that juncture. Sir William tells me that Sir Harry seemed struck with the suggestion, and much disposed to adopt it. He promised to consider it carefully and let the Governor know his decision next day. It is understood that he consulted certain members of his own party in tho interim, and that they earnestly dissuaded him, and that in spite of his own predilection for the step suggested he did not feel at liberty to disregard the objections of his friends— objections likely to be entertained also by others who had hitherto worked with him. At all events Sir Harry Atkinson called on the Governor^ next day and; explained that after due consideration ho found that he could not see his way to offer a, portfolio to Mr Beeves, although he allowed it to be clearly seen that he himself was decidedly favourable to that course, and so the offer wns not made, This, I think, you will admit, is an item of New Zealand political history which has Hot hitherto seen the light. I mention it now with tho full permission of my informant — Sir William Jervois. I fancy it will be read with interest. I fancy also it will b« read with some surprise by Mr W. I. Reeves himself. Under the heading of "Welcome Shade," the New Zealand Times says :— " Shade is only one of the benefits to bo obtained from a street system of planting trees, if the right kinds of ti'-es are planted, tries that will not give shade in the winter. There is the ' beauty of form and colour iv the streets which are even better than shade even in warm weather. But, besides these, which are mere details, are the sanitary properties of grcon trees, and the profits from the timber. The mistake of the builders of the towns of New Zealand is thatthey left the idea of trees out of their plans altogether. I With plenty of room on which to build, they eircumseribed, narrowed, cabined, cribbed, and confined their cities. A few have thoroughfares broad enough for double rows of trees. Invercargill, for instance, will yet present the grand spectacle of noble avenues of trees ;Christohuroh, may do so also, and Auckland. But no other city will ever do it more than partially. Wellington ought tocorerthe whole of the streets on the reclaimed ground with handsome timber, but everywhere else the streets are too narrow for any plan of tree planting. There is however, room for substantial work. We thnrnfnrn wiali wall fn flip Arhnvan.l Snpipfv "