POETRY. SONGS OF THE CITY.-NO. 1.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 281, 14 July 1888, Page 6

POETRY. SONGS OF THE CITY.-NO. 1.

The summer clouds had Winter's frown. And bleak and chill the winds of night— 1 saw, Avlicn passing through the town, A. brother in a sorry plight. Poor and forlorn : his wasted form Looked like a statue ot despair ; l£is clothes— no shelter from the storm, His lace all worn with grief and care. Ifo held some burden, as in pain. " What casket hast thou there 1" I cried, " So careful thou, against the rain - !So closely press'd, so near thy side ?' He spoke not, but L saw a tear All silent, fill his tender eyes; I saw in happy Auckland hero, A sight for gods to feel surprise!

"L'was bul a simple box of wood. He hold so near his loving heart ! 0, fondest bond& oL fatherhood, T'was hard thy dead and ttice should part ! But. 0, my (aod ! what pangs severe, When Death and Want join in eonunand ! To see the dead love lying near, And none to bear a helping hand !

To know a wcar.\ inarch may lie Between the graveyard and the (own ; And none to list his mournful &igh Ere he may lay his burden down ! And one has wealth ; jel sorrow stands Rolentlobs at tho palace jrato : Though treasures buy tho helping- hands, Tjio heart is still as desolate.

One bears his dead alone— so brave, Sole mourner of his heavy loss ; Another builds a marble gravo, Yet each alone must boar his crobS. Ay ! so with all— with rich and poor— 1 Before life ends some cross is borno— Somo dead love goes from out our door Beforo the martyr's crown is worn !

W. K. Wills.

tli6 iiGces c i'i'v Ipw'a. i om:*ni <\ < •"•" etc, but ho tl-ou»ht he v<"i' ' >- -v do so now very shortly, when tendeis Would be at once invited and tho woik proceeded with. An application from Mr Chas. Gallagher for permission to lay on a water supply to his Louse by connecting; with the Domain water main pipe (which wa9 iread at the previous monthly meeting, the matter being then loft in the hands of the Chairman and Mr Abier to deal With), was again brought up. The Chairman snid he had informed Mr Gallagher the Board had no objection to his having the Water supply subject to a small annual charge, and to J •certain conditions to be drawn up, the cost of connecting to be borne by applicant. Mr Ilott asked how the Board proposed to deal with other applications Which would be snie to follow in the •event of Mr Gallagher's application being granted* The Board should be careful about establishing a precedent, Unless others were to be granted a similar privilege, and the Board's water supply was not a large one. The Chairman and Mr Ahiev said they saw no reason for refusing others if they applied, provided the supply proved •sufficient to meet any such demands. Mr Ilott said he did not think it would "be right for the Board to undertake to supply water to private houses without 'first communicating with Government on the matter ; and moved that a letter be sent to the Hon. Minister of Lands asking if he had any oljection to the, •Board allowing private individuals to ■connect with the Domain Beard's water main, subject to conditions, etc. The "motion was seconded by the Chaiiman and carried. Mr Ilott asked what steps had been taken to renioTe the earth slip near ISTo. 5 bathhouse, etc. (the matter having Wen left in the hands of the Chairman to deal with) and said several complaints had been made to him respecting the minced temperature of the water at 'the private baths, owing to the supply 'from some of the springs being cut off in consequence of this slip ; and it was •desirable the supply of hot water be kept in the highest possible state of ■efficiency. After some discussion the matter was left as before in the hands of the Chairman, who undertook to arrange fri the removal of 'the slip and lowering of No "5 bathhouse. A letter forwarded by Dr. Wright, "which be had recohed From Messrs Sayr and Co., the well-known tottiist •agents, etc. was read. Messrs Ilayr stating they were about to publish a •special edition of their <mide for circulation at the Melbourne Exhibition, and offering to insert a page notice re To Aioha spring's, etc., for £o o?. Resolved that the Secretary loply to Messrs Hayr acceptini/ Ov uftVr. jSIr IHott said complain 1 -- were being made With "respect to the i-lettiic batteiy at Uo. 3 bathhouse, the Uitteiy nt present, "beinar so weak as to bo or little use: lie moved that the Civic write to the 1 "Hon. Minister of Lands stating the' circumstances and a^KI.-q; if Government: Would kindly a^Ht the Board by providing then with an efficient battery ■-etc. The motion «n< cnriied.