THE MAN OF THE HOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 444, 16 June 1902, Page 3

THE MAN OF THE HOUR.

Far away in distant Yorkshire, about the time of ’34, Was bom our noble Premier, the friend of rich and poor. The friend of Liberty and Truth, the friend of working man, And o’er his wondrous life’s history with you I’ll try to scan. We hoar of him first as a miuor, working in tho West, And then as a public-house keeper, selling only liquor the host ; And then tho heaven-born genius implanted in his mind Forced him to give up that business, and lead his brothers—mankind. So he took to talking polities, and at once tho people saw In Dick a man in a million by the way he held the floor. When Cheviot wanted a railway, the people rose as one, And asked him to do his utmost to see what could bo done. Being elected for Cheviot, we see our hero now Take his first seat in Parliament, with tho usual kind of bow. He obtained the railway sought for, and, being asked to stand At the next election, was made the member for Westland. The good he’s done for his country is not my theme to tell, But on greater objects and attainments I now propose to dwoll— Of how when the colony saw in him the ability to rule, It made him Premier of our isles (other members were in his school). We know most of tho laws that Richard for us has made : The grand law of arbitration, that rules and govorns trade. The Lands for Settlement Act, wo know, helps our farmers poor, And Old Age Pensions is a boom for pioneers, I’m sure. When disastor New Zealand threatened, in the failure of tho Bank, He canae to its aid at the right time, and money down did plank. Of friendship for his feliow-man, where can you relate Anything to equal his to Ward, the Actmg-Premier up-to-date. He’s climbing the slippery ladder, the ladder up to fame ; And his Imperial policy has won him an undying name — For the name of Richard Seddon will go down to generations As the leader of all politics, and the Premier of all nations. The Motherland was fighting the Boers across the wave, And a call to arms in New Zealand awoke our sons so brave. Then Richard mustered up the mon, ten contingents of soldiers bold; He told them what was wanted; he told them what to do ; And without a doubt our soldiers upheld our honor, too. And now, he’s Home in England among the gay and grand (I’d like to see the reception he’ll get when he walks the Strand); Yes, when at the Coronation our Premier takes his place, He’ll be the hero of Now Zealand and all the British raee 1 Gisborne, June 14th. —A.W.