NEVER MORE!

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 122, 18 September 1877, Page 2

NEVER MORE!

To me sitting, dozing, dreaming, while the moonlight clear was .streaming, Streaming through the open window on to my stud}- floor, Came tl»e sound of two conversing, some past public deeds rehearsing, And, it seemed, some grievance nursing, as they stood just near my door, To a question put by one as they stood just near my door, Quoth the other, " Never more !" As he moved one seemed to halt a little in his gait, and falter In his speech, which, now I listened, I was sure I'd heard before, As he said, in tones bewailing, " Are my schemes all unavailing, All my eloquence, and railing, when I spoke as Councillor, Shall I never in the Council sit again as Councillor?" Quoth the other, "Never more !" " Shall I ne'er again sensatiou cause by views on Reclamation, Over which I've racked my brains, till I've • really felt quite sore From sitting hours together, quite regardless, too, of weather, — It would try abide of leather—on that box beside my door, Sitting there as I have sat on that box beside my door ?" Quoth the other, " Never more 1"

"If this, land be never fill'd in, shall I not some public building Find a name and local habitation for? ■ Shall I never get the kudos, how with careful thought, and studious, Lest of land they should denude us, I Reserves have traversed o'er ? The trouble that I took with those Reserves I traversed o'er! Quoth the other, " Never more J" " Will that matter of Lake Draining, and the Railway be remaining Unassisted by my talents, though a loss all must deplore, Oh ! tell me am I out of, —without a single doubt, —of All share in, and about, public life as heretofore — "Have I lost the little influence I wielded heretof ore " Quoth the other, " Evermore !''

Then he turned away disgusted with the Burgesses he'd trusted To return him, as they'd done about a year or so before, And I heard him wildly tearing at his hair and mildly swearing, ... I In determined tones declaring as a Councillor no more,. On a smaller box he'd sit, but as a Councillor no more. •'"-■' Would he put up—Never more.