THE MEMBER FOR PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 115, 15 May 1872, Page 3

THE MEMBER FOR PARLIAMENT.

Air " Nel Flaherty's Drake." Come, boys , let's be merry with a drop of the crater, There's eating and drinking galore on the shelf; I'm Luckie by name and I'm Luckie by nature, And at politics I'd lick old Yogel himself ; I've been many a year in the Colonist office, And on the head always could hit the right nail, So, boys, gather round me, you see I'm no novice, I'm the genuine stuff, and I'll never turn tail. My trip to New Zealand I've not yet repented. And I' ye watched all their blundering year after year; The Province has never been well represented, And I'm going in lor your representative here. I'll astonish the world with my wide speculations; You'll have plenty to eat and to drink, I'll go bail, And you'll hear on more falk of these wild agitatations, I'll go in with a will, and I'll never turn tail. Yes, sirs, I would well represent my electors, No Government salaries placed on the list; I'll vote for freetrade without any protectors, Every man shall protect his own claims with his fist. I'll have Peace and Plenty and I'll have separation, I'll have ball-rooms instead of JCourt-houses and gaols, I'll support and encourage female immigration, I'll go in the whole hog and I'll never turn tail. Your beef shall be cheap, and so shall your mutton, No duty on leather, I'm a friend to the snob, For the Customs officials I don't care a button, And I'll pitch to Old Harry the duty on grog. And the ladies, dear creatures, in their little sly corners, Shall all have a drop of the Crater for sale, And I'll hang every one of those sly grog informers, And like a good soldier, I'll never turn tail. This beautiful country I'll have opened up to, I'll have locomotives instead of horse-tracks, All this grumbling and growling I'll soon put a stop to ; Sleepy Hollow shall never again be so slack. Now what do you think of my views of New Zealand, Do you think if I stand I'll go in without fail, And if for the country you've a morsel of feeling Just give me your votes, and I'll never turn tail. W. Roberts.