THE MOA : A LAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2687, 1 October 1889, Page 2

THE MOA : A LAMENT.

In old New Zealand lived a bird Whose name you all have doubtless heard, Of him I wish to say a word. The Moa! He flourished in the stormy days, When Waitemata was ablaze With Rangitoto's fire displays, Plutonic. Ho monarch was of all the land, His beak his sceptre of command, His appetite was simply grand— Prodigious! His views of ruling subjects seem To have been what we now would deem Correct, and simple to extreme— He ate 'em ! Would he were here, with iron jaw, To pack in his capacious maw Some things that vex us since we saw The Moa ! Not dainty as to what he ate, He'd gobble up the Public Debt, The greatest benefactor yet! The Moa! The Major and his hob-nail boot We hope would shortly follow suit, The stomach tlicy would tax, [ "doot," Of Moa ! What joy 'twould be to see him scoop Tho Railway System up like soup. Lord! But we'd greet with joyful whoop That Moa ! Log-rolling Senators ! lie dumb! You and your honorarium Would soon lie looking mighty glmri, I fancy ! "Depression's shade would disappear, We'd get out of the street called "queer," By leaps and bounds advance, 'tis clear, To plenty. But, ah ! my dream is all in vain ; Alas ! he'll never coma again, But leave to us the sad refrain — No Moa(r)! —T.W.T).