THE LAY OF THE LOST MINISTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1167, 19 April 1884, Page 3

THE LAY OF THE LOST MINISTER.

Dear Harry, you see, it no longer will do For me to continue in office with you.

My masters are howling tc me to resign, And it’s all UP with my billet so fine. So, Harry, dear boy, adieu. Ha !Ha ! I’m off to the banks of the Rangl-ta-ta.

This confounded tariff will upset your rule, And if I staj' longer you may call mo a fool. Old Dick from Otago—you can do as you please, But I don’t, I assure you, feel at all at my

ease. So, Harry, dear boy, adieu. Ha !Ha ! I’m off to the banks of the Rangi-ta-ta.

For years I’ve endeavored your rule to maintain, But the country demands that 1 now shall refrain. So, Harry, your House must in order be put, Or else from high office you’ll for ever be shut. So, Harry, dear boy, adieu. Ha !Ha ! I’m off to the banks of the Rangi-ta-ta.

Alas ! for the days that are buried and gone, When in this dear old Province a great light I shone ; When Monty and Jollie, determined to find A true patriot Super., were strongly combined. So, Harry, dear boy, adieu. Ha !Ha ! I’m off to the banks of the Rangi-ta-ta.

They found me—’tis true, as true I now stand — Quite ready to join with that patriot band In striving to rescue the land of our choice From ways that were wicked and teeming with vice. So, Harry, dear boy, adieu. Ha ! Ha 1 I’m off to the banka of the Rangi-ta-ta.

I came, and I conquered, and rescued the land , But too soon I abandoned that patriot band, And (sadly I rue it) much neglected my duty By allowing the land sharks to grab all the booty. So, Harry, dear boy, adieu, Ha !Ha J I’m off to the banka of the Rangi-ta-ta.

The reform of the land laws was all empty talk, And bind sharks I never attempted to baulk ; And now, when to stop them 1 make the attempt, The Lords and the squatters treat it all with contempt. So, Harry, dear boy, adieu Ha ! Ha ! I’m off to the banks of the Rangi-ta-ta.

I’ve now reached an epoch in life’s weary toil Which finds me down here, in a terrible broil; My friends are all gone, and I’m cursed in the land Where once I was head of that patriot band. So, dear old Harry, adieu. Ha !Ha ! I’m going to be buried down at Rangitata. Political death to me is now sure, Which I might have avoided if I'd remained pure ; But, alas ! it is now toe late to atone, So there’s no office left for poor Billy Rolestone. Then, dear old Harry, adieu. Ha ! Ha ! I’m going to be buried down at Rangi-ta-ta. So take warning my comrades, before ’tis too late, And avoid, if you can, poor Billy’s sad fate; For the country, now raging, no longer will stand The grasping intention* ot Atkimon’s band. So, for ever, dear Harry, adieu, Ha! Ha ! I soon shall be buried down at Rangi-ta-ta. H.C. —Lyttelton Times.