ON THE DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 237, 28 March 1885, Page 9

ON THE DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

Minna B. sends us the following gush over Auckland's one big gun. We notice lots of room for improvement in Minna's poetry, but as she is evidently young and artless, and as we happen to be in a fatherly, indulgent liumour, we give fair Minna a show. Here goes : —

Arm, arm, ye brave, across the wave — The hostile foe may come ; The Government, our port to save, Are tendering for one gun.

The erection of one awful gun The thought is quite immense "Oh, arm, ye Auckland larrikins, In our fair port's defence.

-Get one little pocket pistol, And a heap of penny whistles. Fight for Auckland, fight not little ! Hurry up with all you missies. This the result of a Cabinet meeting, One heavy gun to guard our portTo give the foe a noisy greeting, And warm them as we ought ! Oh, fix that gun on Flagstaff Hill, And man it with brave lads. If the Russians come against our will, We'll crush their ironclads.

'Three cheers for Government's big gun ! Three groans for the foe afar ! We'll make the Russians skip and ran If they come near our bar. Larrikins, stop, and try to think What you can do for our shore. Kerosene tins, with barbarous chink, Keep pace with the cannon's roar !