MT. EGMONT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 July 1925, Page 8

MT. EGMONT.

A TIUBI'TE TO IT'S GRANDE l K. by a VISITOR IN Now that Mt. Egmont is spccmljv before llie mind ol tilt? people, a 1 written to.' Uie St»r lislied on January - oL thtW >t.n.* CL " verv appropriate lor re-publication. The lines'were written b> XI • Caldwell, a ' South Australian M• 1 ■ ’ who attended the New Zea a. d Doers’ Institute Coiderenc-e m Xen I mouth ,in January. 190*2. Hev'sited Mt I<>mont, as ,tlie result <>l which the following verses were penned

Oh! grand Taranaki, you justly may claim , ~t The harp of the stranger to speak ot vonr fame! , . ~ For'many the changes that troubled vour breast Fre safe on your besom- the Briton found rest. For tokens still tell of the years that have pass d. • ~ . When Egmont his c inder-clouds hurl cl on the blast, . ~ And rivers of lava. wild, fiery and 1 ree From his era ter-veivfcs flowed to the baths ol the sea. When forces infernal, deep-prisoned and In m minings and g reamings eon tended for vent, And the earth into.chasms and fissures wa s rent ; And all the ..wide, region was tilled with affright,.. In blackness by day and hell-glow by night. 'i'hen rose the groat cone, like a mountain of dread, 'Till the cloud-drift of ages had covered his head. And calm grew the terrors, the fires ceased to glow. And Egmont was robed in his mantle of snow.

And thus for long ages the cloudpiercing cone In summer and winter in majesty shone — Yes. thousands and thousands of seasons went by. And still the great pyramid rose in the sky.

Hut God in his wisdom extended the glow Of the sun to, the zone' of the mountain of snow; 1 Then dowirTUshod the torrents, relent? less and strong. ... And glaciers, more slowly, went ploughing along.

Then thundered tho avalanche downward amain,. And scattered the mountain-spoil over tho plain, While streams of wild water, like serpents astray. Ran darting and twisting in search of their way.

And thus, for long ages, the forces renewed The conflict of Nature, and fought and subdued Each other, till peace was established again. And verdure appeared on each foothill and plain.

And forests encircled the mountain and press’d. Still onward and upward more near to the crest, v Then came the dark Maori to .seek in the shades A home and subsistence; and grimly he prayed The gods of the savage to lend him their aid.

And madly lie struggled, with hate in his breast, And hell heat, such as the old mountain oppress’d ; ■ While fearful convulsion* molested his rest: For strife and distraction still came to his share. And peace, and contentment avioded him there.

In time the hold Briton came over the main. By I’rovidence guided, to rule and to reign. With progress and commerce and science’ and art. With God in his purpose, anil Christ in his heart.

And then was repeated the discord and fight. As error and darkness encountered the light, And forces volcanic found vent in the breast, And passion, and hatred and horror distressed.

But peace was restored ; yet stil| may he seen Around us the tokens of the strife that has been. And those memory stones at St. Mary’s aright ■ Remind us who fought and who fell in the fight.

And now, Taranaki, the bounty of heaven, The beauty of burning and ashes has given, And love, hope and progress in happy accord. Are ever repeating the praise of the Lord !

The darknt\s s away from the forest has passed ; , The brightness has dawned that" for ever must last; Thy peace is abiding; thy children arc free. And grandeur and glory are resting on thee 1