ODE TO SIR GEORGE BOWEN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 41, 5 April 1873, Page 3

ODE TO SIR GEORGE BOWEN.

Stay yet, proconsul great, while now we bear Consentient tribute to thy watchful care, Constant on us bestowed. Heartfelt, sincere, Our parting praise, not empty utterance mere. Unlike, when o’er the sunny plains of Inde Great Hastingstriumph’d,and in triumph sinn’d, Employing heathen arts and native wiles, And meeting treachery with treacherous smiles. —Not thine such policy ; rather as friend, Firmly,, yet. gently, hearts and. aims to blend. For common weal. The Maori’s dusky son At length, compliant, yields his forests won; Sees in the white man’s track rise blessings great, And owns th’ 'inevitable' law of fate.- f ' Speaks too the land —her hills and valleys wide Speak of the blessings by thy rule supplied;— Speaks in her waving fields from strife reclaim’d; Speaks in her commerce, now no |onger,maim’d By war’s all-blasting breath, the very soil Yields richer produce to the miner’s toil; Labour and industry their ranks unfold, Nor centre in the barren search for gold. Tho’ for herself fair Auckland still must grieve, Deserted, nigh uncared for, yet, believe, She sinks her sorrows in the common good, Nor brings reproach, if e’en reproach she could. As the bright orb at eve withdraws his rays, In turn for other worlds t’ illume the days, So thou thy sway viceregal lay’st aside, But to resume where rolls swift Yarra’s tide. Happy the land in thee about to find The skilful guidance of a temper’d mind : May fortune, favour, all success attend Thy work; may lofty Heaven its blessing send: At home, abroad, a-field, upon the deep, May God protect thee, and in safety keep. Alfred King. Auckland, March ,7,1873.