Old-time Echoes.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 12, 23 June 1894, Page 11

Old-time Echoes.

PROVINCIAL DAYS RECALLED

Mr A. Kinross writes : Whilst -the death of the Hon. Vincent Pyke is fresh in the minds of your readers, connected with him will possess a special interest. When I •was in Dunedin attending the Provincial Council of Otago I composed u A Southland Members* farewellMy former partner (the late Mr J. C. Brown) was then a member of the •Council, and I showed the poem to him. He was pleased with it, and -asked for a copy • for Mr Pyke,-who was then editor of The Southern Mercury. I gave a copy to hitu, and it was published on 18th June, 1875. For a time I discontinued jcomposiag, hut when Mr Pyke published “ The Old Flag,” I composed “ a New Zear land War Song, “ The Old Land and the New,” and various other patriotic poems. Of the seven Southland members -of the last Provincial Council of Otago, Messrs Cummings, Daniel, and Wood are gone, and Messrs Lumsden, Rogers, Wilson, and I remain. Of the Otago members, Mr Me Oerrpid ■and many others are dead. Mr Donald Reid, Mr J. L. Gillies, an< l Mr J. Mills have voluntarily aban--doned political life. The Hon. John McKenzie, Sir Robert Stout, Mr J. Green, and Mr Steward (Speaker) -are in the House, and the Hon. Mr. Reynolds in the Council. As I predicted, > Sir* Robert Stout has since occupied a prominent place in the history of New Zealand. When he attained power he did not forget those who assisted him in fighting for Liberalism when the party was weak, but proved the best friend I ever had. A SOUTHLAND MEMBER’S FAREWELL. (By Aspeew Kinkoss.) Farewell to Dunedin, fair city ; Good-bye to this dear Council hall; 'With a mixture of pleasure and pity I’m going away from you all. No longer I’ll list to those speeches So eloquent, witty, and grand, When each member knowingly teaches The mode we should settle our land. No longer I’ll join in the fighting For honour, power, country, or place, When Baitings all things would be righting, With justice to Southland, his case. No longer proud Donald will gammon To sit at the Gamaliel’s fact, Not worshipping pleasure or mammon, But drinking in wisdom so sweet. No more shall he treat with derision Those members by whom he was beat, Nor make such sarcastic incision As shall bring Mr Fish to his feet. No longer McDermid the mighty (In Scripture quotations to deal) With reasons- —some weighty, some flighty, Shall try that Dunedin shan’t steal The trade that Port Chalmers is driving With passengers, captains, and crews; Nq longer he’ll vainly be striving To keep from Dunedin the dues. Farewell to stout Robert, whose teaching Is still in advance of the age. . J hope that his practice and preaching May be stamped upon history’s page. A s our sphere shall make each revolution, May knowledge and goodness advance, And higher be man’s evolution, Guided bn by One greater than chance. ■Good-bye to the members I’m leaving, I’m sure that I wash you all well; Don’t think that I’m only deceiving—’Tis the truth without doubt that I tell. I hope that no word I have spoken Has caused either anger or pain ; And trust that your looks will betoken Your friendship I’ll always retain.