A POETICAL ADDRESS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 7 November 1855, Page 4

A POETICAL ADDRESS.

[Delivered 1 at tho Opening Concert in the Nelson Odd Fellows' Hall, November 2, 1855.]

Our Hall is up. Its outside walls are plain — But plain men built them. Here you see again The fable of tho bundled sticks laid out ; For, that this hall cost money, none will doubt ; Yet each man's means were scant and weak alone, But, when they were united into ono Accumulated purse, they strong became, Arid roused the slmnb'ring fire to blazing flame.

And yet we'll take care not to quite forget. Those friends from whom we kind assistance met : Thanks, also, to our patrons here to-night j And thanks to those whose sense of honour bright Has prompted them then* services to give, And with melodious sounds sweet thoughts revive. Still thanks to those who give us their advice, But no assistance. Yet so very nice And wise were they in running down our hall — The roof, said they, was low — tho windows small — ■ The plan was very bad — the site was worse — But not a penny gave they from their purso. Oh ! Charity — a grace so rare to find — When wilt thou more adorn the human mind ? And when will men, before they seek to roam In search of others' faults, look first at home?

Perhaps, however, you'll allow on this Occasion it would not be thought amiss, Should I digress a little, and relate, In modest verse, the past and present stato Of Nelson province. Need I call to mind The homeward thoughts which many cast behind, As with the Expedition they set out To this fair land of promise ? Without doubt They were astonished when they first drew near Tho coast, and saw the rugged hills appear : The desert waste ; the tluck and lofty fern j The plains of flax, in view at every turn ; The miry swamps ; the silence all around ; And then the roadless, houseless, trackless ground ; Alike were wondrous to our pioneers : — But, having British hearts, they knew no fears ; So, hoisting high their Hag, they pitched their tent, And then, without delay, to work they went, To make the wilderness a settlement.

As time progressed, so population came, Some roads were formed, and streets laid out by name ; More tents tho hilly spots bogan to crown, In fact it then waß quite a canvass town. Soon huts and houses sprang up here and there, Some very rough, and others neat and fair ; Mechanics plied their trades, and dealers sold All sorts of goods, and pocketed much gold.

Then young surveyors used about to prance, « And lead the sober folks a curious dance ; Or, in tho middle of a moonlight night, To lift a good man's house, and turn it quite ; So that on rising he'd with wonder staro

On his new landscape. He remembered where He went to bed. Then faced his door the hill Which now right slap behind liis house stood still. 'Twas strange, thought he, that hills should thus

remove, And so he blamed poor Gulliver, or Jove.

Still ever onward rolled the wheels of time, And people came from almost every clime ; Still ships arrived, bringing their goodly freight ; Both passengers and goods came now at rapid rate, And all things seemed to prosper. Bui, alas ! More horrible events soon came to pass. The Massacre at Wairau is a page Of sorrow in our history. Many an ago Will not blot out remembrance of that day, On which so many true hearts passed away. Removed from joys that earth and life afford, They'll meet in heaven the patriot's reward. Confusion in our province then prevailed, For all a friend or relative bewailed. Then tho Militia would in rank appear, Well armed with pike and nni3ket, sword and spear. W r hat drill-parading, exercising arms, (Though drilling did not quiet all alarms) ; What marching up the Happy Valley road, Some trembling from their fears, some from then* load : How gallantly they tramped up to tlie bush ; How glad to find no cause to onward push ; Then they returned to town, with joy serene, And drank the health of then- beloved Queen.

These things may do to laugh at now, but then They were realities ; you knew not when You would bo roused, and called on to defend Your home and those who on your caro depend. Thank God that time is past — that now we stand In no such danger from a savage band. Then was tho battery upon the hill Built up j some bastions ni'e standing still j And hononred yet, tho9o walls of sod and earth, For now they hold a Church within their girth. Soon came a mighty turning pomt — a blow Affecting every one, both high and low. Tho Company, whicli hitherto employed All those who wished to work, destroyed The happiness of many an honest man, By ceasing to employ him. Then began The tido of population to flow out ; And, something like an army in full rout, The people left by scores, another clime To seek. Oh ! what a sad and mournful time : A period of much suff'ring, fear, and doubt ; When those who'd naught for dinner went without j And they who had wherewith to make a meal Were reckoned lucky, and could truly feel For their poor neighbours What a time of Lent, When even a dish of shell fish gave content. The seed, which planted in the ground in hope Of future increase, had to be dug up, To stay the pangs of hunger. But to dwell On this sad scene would tire your patience. Well, The lane, though very long, still turned at last, And many in their joy forgot the past. Tho land, the spade, the plough, were real charmore, And soon converted lab'rers into farmers.

Other and great events occurred since then, The telling which I leave to abler men. They may relate tho histories of those Explorers of the country. Heaven knows The many sufferings which they endured, And how of death they often were assured ; Or how, not having beef, or sheep, or hogs, They were obliged to dine off rats and dogs.

To the historian I will also leave To tell how colonists were used to grieve When loving Governors were home recalled ; How at the earthquakes we were much appall'd ; How, when the rage for gold was at its height, And fortunes ready-made were near in sight, Our Nelson people did not seek to roam, But nobly stuck to their adopted home ; Or how the Constitution Act was brought First into work. Space bids mo to stop short.

And what is Nelson now — what may it be ? Who can look around the place and sec The vast improvements, and not feel delight ? The cottages on almost every height ; The well-formed streets, the neat and handsome shops ; The cultivations, even on hill tops ; The banks, where violets spring and wild thyme grows ; The rustic fence, where blossoms the wild rose ; The joyous notes of birds ; the waving trees ; The busy hum of the industrious bees ; The smiling farms, and homes on every hand, Emblems of peace and plenty in the land ; Tho herds ot cattle ; myriads of sheep ; I The well-bred horse, fit to race or leap • The gardens, full of flowers and useful roots ; Tho orchards, yielding their delicious fruits ; The plains of grass, and fields of waving corn, Alike our modern landscape well adorn ; Our churches, chapels, school-rooms, hall, and mills ; Our mines, our rivers, and our fertile hills ; All, all of these confirm, with trail h sublime, Tho blessings which adorn this glorious clime ; All, all,' present a picture to our view, Ab beautiful and fair a3 it is true ; All, all attest the progress we have made, And throw our doubts and fear? into the shade.

And then the futifre. Dare we risk a look Into that dark and closely-sealed book That holds futurity ? Dare we try To lift the mystic veil and prophecy Aught of our Province — when her wealth increases, When copper's dug as rich as penny pieces, When steamers puff and ply about "the Bay, And gas will make the night a3 light as day ; When Governors their grand reviews will hold On what seems now a mud-flat (but we're told Some day 'twill be a park) ; when engines scream, And people travel to Waiuica by steam ; When this of Government will be the seat, And folks will crowd and throng each busy street ; When that good time arrives, so long foretold, And honest worth is prized as precious gold ; When education thrives on every hand, And ignorance is banished from tho land ; When men unite in friendly brotherhood, And learn " the luxury of doing good" ? More wondrous things than this may yet take place, All which I leave to abler pens to trace.

But to resume, pray pardon my delay, Our hall is up and opened. Here you may A temple of Odd Fellowship behold. Within Hb shelt'ring walls will oft bo told The tale of sickness, trouble, sufi'ring, grief, Which only needs be told to gain relief. And here, too, like three graces, side by side, Will Friendship, Love, and Truth o'er us preside. Odd Fellowship may have its faults, but who Will duro dispute the good which it may do. We say if; without vanity or fear, It oft has dried the orphan's bitter tear ; Has helped the widow's anguish to assuage, And smoothed the pillow of declining ago.

Froru hence will many a grave procession start, To play the cad and melancholy part Of fcllon i lg a brother to the tomb, Where all must go to wait their final doom.

These acts, where friendship, love, and truth combine, In these Odd Fellowship will always shine. The open hand — the philanthropic mmd — The true, unselfish, love to human-kind — Will ever gain respect. May this hall Receive the sympathy and wish of all For its success. It 3 architecture's plain, But may it prove a case that shall contain Within its walls the sentiments of worth, The feelings which to upright acts give birth : May its career be marked witli great renown, And may it prove a credit to our town ; An honour to our peaceful settlement, ,With usefulness its chicfest ornament.

Then, when this generation's passed away, Our children, as they tako our place shall say, While pointing to this Hall with honest pride, " Our lathers help'd lo build it ere they died."

J. L. B.

November 1, 1855.