ODE ON NEW ZEALAND'S JUBILEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 24 January 1890, Page 2

ODE ON NEW ZEALAND'S JUBILEE.

A little wreath I now entwine ..'"' y. '.Y;|-. An offering to thee .',''.'■■ . V •■ My dearly loved, ,»$ aaSve ItJttS On this thy JcSflee. V , Fall-Mtjj&ti'h&v* ooat« a»igt ad '•'■'•" \Vh&fflwti^#&m f-lii ' *-T_.»g» A^ti^l^nd _•! rjoble men, .. ; .'. ] And -women WVesavl troe. . ' With willing ha-artg and wii-.Bg .; For alltheyliad te So. "■ '^ ..; Their homes and kindrsd they hftd left Far; far, across tho wave Their energies, their lives, their nil ' . To.this new land they gave All honour. to that Pilgrim band ! Oh, littlo do they know \ " Who fio* land on New Zealand's shor-3 -■ ;■ How much to thera they owe. j What toils and h^rdehip*. were endured In working out their plan ' ' Of making this ft pleasant home •. For civilizsd man •■,, Somo few are y'ot alive to tell But more are fall'n Mleop; With' reveren*-- and gratefulness Their memory let us keep. 'Tween then and now what wondrous' change Has passed o'er all the land,. Aa if in truth it. had been touched By an enchanter's wand— But no— 'twas work, hard, honest, work, Of daily life the prose, Which: made this country to " r.jftie. And blossom like the rose." A good beginning for their race Those early settlers mado, A genial climo, a fertile soil Their efforts well repaid ; And now their childron's children can Look reund about and see With pride, the fruit of all their toil On this our Jubilee. 1 Let us glance o'er these fifty years And view theso islands then Inhabited by scattered tribes , . Of rude and savage men Who knew not how to use the wealth • ' '' That all around them lay— . , Tr6aau.es of nature, all. stored up , For strangers far away. Then nature's charms alone were seen _?or sho alone held sway, The grsater part of this fine land Then all uncultured lay ; I " Now golden harvests 'here are reaped And flocks and herds now fee* ' In numbers vast-supplying more [ Than our own country's need. The weary footsore travsller^then Midst dangers not a few ; Where roads and bridges wero unknown His journey did pursue ; . . Now the steam-whistle loud and shrill, Is heard throughout the land, Trains, steam-boat's travelling comforts plaoe At every one's command. Now numerous villages and towns Are scattered far and wide. Four cities royal honours claim We look on thera with pride — "'Queen of the South," Qaeea of the North." Two rivals fair are seen ; The " Empire city," proudly liitsi Her head, those two betwean. And in that Province of our Isles Where bount-one " Ceres," rei^HS By Avon's peaceful stream thero standg Tho " City of the plains." Thus fifty years have well combined' With natural beauties rare, In making this a land with which ■ Few countries can compare. • Now, rioble ships from, distant lands " Come io us o'er the main Bringing; us stores of merchandise . And taking back again— . New Zealand's wealthier mineral Wealth Her wondrous feod inppliett, Her -wool, her flas, the v aried fruit ■ Of all her industries. -Not toilers* for mere wealth are *»! A people unrefined, > • We have no lack of sughi that ten*i« To cultivate the mind ; To teach, to train, to elevate To ennoble mini and heart, . Our 1 Press, our Schools, on* CeFlejeß Ons Churches; take tkeir part. Well might fteV Zealand's Colonist. ' .Befrioble, good, and wise If all their great advantages They properly would pme. • Our Maori friends 'have also nhered In our presp.rity* ' How changed their lot, einca founding of ■New Z-f.land's colony ! These changes all whioii hejo we noto Which some of as have seen, Have taken place, within the reign . Of pur beloved Queen. ; Our Exhibition, now en view ■• Maris wall our Jubilee, . And there the progress we have _o_.de Th« thronging crowds may see. In looking back upon the past Good cause have we to raise Our " Eben.aer,', and uplift ' To day our voice of praise, To Him'who hitherto hath kept. And prospered this our land, Remembering that all we have , la from His gracious hand. A jjjoodly heritage our God Has given ns to enjoy ; With thanks let us receive His gifts And rightly them employ Let us, New Zealand's Colonists Be faithful to our trast, A people truly fearing God ' In a'l our actions just. "Then sha!l|the beauty of the Lord Our God be us upon • ! He shall establish all •' our works Estab^sh Ib.m eftch one." • We then might hope, with confidence This fair and fruitful land Shall have a noble history A future great and grand. B. U.