A Deadly Lively Ditty.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 535, 19 June 1880, Page 2

A Deadly Lively Ditty.

After i-eading Mr Croumbie Brown’s report of Whitney’s death at Waihi, a lady in Canterbury writes as follows : THE LIVING DEAD MAN AT WAIHI. “ Give my respects to Mrs Brown , And say I'm pretty well." Ingoldshy Legends. A false report, that Whitney died, Had reached delighted Brown : (A borrowed shilling ho had got Conveyed tiie news to town). The sad intelligence of death Created great dismay, For this brave constable had helped To scare Maoris away. Then all the papers did abuse The doctor who was called, For Brown had said “ by his neglect” The A.O.’s were appalled ! Now doctors all, of Brown beware, Who “mixes” facts so well, That from his notes, though read with care, The truth you ne’er can tell ! He telegraphs as startling fact; “ Whitney did surely die !” For weeks and weeks he won’t retract, But reaffirms the lie. That doctors’ patients should survive, Brown does not quite expect : If Whitney still should be alive, That proves ’twas “ gross neglect.” Brown’s “ Art of Physic Simplified Here’s precept number one—- “ Unless the doctor’s patient died, His work's been badly done!” The brave A.C.’s upon the Plains A Maori spear may pink, And he in barracks that remains Brown kills with printers’ ink. But next time you are out of town, Just call in at Waihi, And breathe a (d °) for Croumbie Brown, His Dead Man ask to see. [°This word is illegible in the manuscript.]