Stories of N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 175, 25 July 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

Stories of N.Z.

By JAMES COWAN.

(Continued from page 378.)

Captain Clayton took pains to have the details of his old-time, ships quite accurate; he had gone to much trouble, I know, to olxfcain exact particulars of the Tory before painting this picture. Moreover, lie had sailed as an apprentice in similar ships. I have suggested that replicas, fullsized models, of the Tory in Wellington, and the Duchess of Argyle and Jane GifTord in Auckland (see last week's illustration on this page) should be built and rigged and manned as part of the coming New Zealand Centennial celebrations. It would cost a large sum of money to make such vessels, but it is the event of a hundred years. The ships in the Waitemata and in Port Nicholson could be used in a dramatic way, sailing in and anchoring and landing their people as the originals did a century ago. Then the ships, if built of our best timbers, could be preserved permanently as museum ships, in concrete docks on some part of the waterfront. That is what has been done with some historic ships in other parts of the world. There is the famous Victory, preserved as she was in Nelson's day. Our replicas of pioneer ships would last as long as the wooden walls of England, and be a constant reminder of the brave days of old.

A Song for the Colonists. A poem was written by Thomas Campbell, then tlie British Poet Laureate, as a kind of salute to these adventurers, addressed to the emigrants who embarked for New Zealand in the first ships of the New Zealand Company, in September and October, 1839. Campbell, as you know, was the famous author of "Ye Mariners of England," "The Exile of Erin," "The Pleasures of Hope," "The Battle of the Baltic" and other stirring poems. It was a ballad of good cheer and God-speed to the New Zealand colonists. These are the principal verses of the eong, which was set to music: Steer, helmsman, till you steer our way By stars beyond the Line; We go to found a realm one day Like England's self to shine. Cheer up, cheer up, our course we'll keep, With dauntless heart and hand • And when we've ploughed the stormy deep, We'll plough a smiling land! A land where beauties importune The Briton to its bowers, To sow but plenteous seeds, and prune Luxuriant fruits and flowers.

There, tracts uncheered by human words. Seclusion's wildest holds, Shall hear the lowing of our herds, The tinkling of our folds. Britannia's pride is in our hearts, Her blood is in our veins— We'll girdle earth with British arts Like Ariel's magic chains. Cheer up, cheer up, our course we'll keep, With dauntless heart and hand'; And when we've ploughed the stormy deep We'll plough a smiling land! This song for the emigrants to'.the far-off land was first printed in the first number of the "New Zealand Gazette," the Company's paper, published in London in August, 1839. (To be continued.)