The Ode.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8153, 31 March 1906, Page 7

The Ode.

1. Hail! Hail! from Isles of the uttermost sea ! Coming from Continent hoary, Grey with the passing years, History giving a glory, A glamour made tender with tears. Hail! Hail! the land with its future to be, New Zealand, cries Welcome ! Ah ! 'mid our joy the Pilgrims are passing away, We from their labour find leisure, We from their hands have our home; Mingled is sorrow and pleasure, See ! 'mid the perilous foam A bountiful wilderness lay Where Pilgrims found welcome. Hail! Hail! from Isles of the uttermost sea! The land with its future to be, New Zealand, cries Welcome ! 2. Long, long fihe lay in isolated splendour, Seas her defences, distances her shield ; Morn glorious rose, and even closed m tender, Lorn lay this Eden fair, once k>st, again revealed. See! timorous ships, the white-winged ships of ocean, Venture from northward, through the unfurrowed seas; Eyes eager gaze, hearts thrill with deep emotion, As the vast sea lays bare, pives up, its mysteries. Now, wonder now! the life of one man passing, Might see the changes, gold grain, snowy fleece; See wealth on wealth within her shores amassing, Health, wealth, prosperity, and glad unthreatened peace! Lands hoar with elcJ! once half a world asunder, Once girt by oceans, dark to human ken, - Near now have drawn these Isles of endless wonder; Hail! fruitful Fortunate Isles Peace! bold sea-faring men! 3. Not unsought the Isles were found, Not unfought the Isles were won ; Ere the bead with,peace is crowned. Strife must end and war be done : In their southern solitude, Jfature'u children dwelt in feudPioneers found the land, Torn by battle loving band ; Pioneers have but done What by Nature was begun,— Brothers ! less be this our shame ; Ye were dying when we came ! 4. Tillage and shepherding gave us their guerdon, Bridged is the distance of severing seas; . Past is the heat of the day with its burden, Fruitful with purpose our leisure shall be: Haven of.beauty ! - From arduous duty Gladly we turn for our solace to thee,;. Ere a short century lies on man's labour, See what his hands have accomplished' and done'; • Welcome the leisure frir viol and tSbor ; Welcome the leisure that labour has won: Now may we nourish the arts 'till flourish— Something* of beauty shalF gladdenthe ftun I 5. The lakes! The trees! The everlasting WHs! . . The fiery regions of the earthquake god! The fastnesses, where no man shears or tills ; The virgin depths of age-unriven sod. A young land ; new land! —virgin from whose eyes Are caught fleet glimpses of a Paradise . A land whose loveliness renews the breath, And stays the hand, the ruthless hand of death 1

Tho pastured bills I the broad and fertile plains Whose produco in tho world finds wel- '• come sure 1 The land that in tho world's wide market gains A place that older lands can not socurc! The mines! the meads [ they rival Englund's own I Behold! Behold! to all the world is shewn Utility and beauty may bo one ; • That here the gold is gathered from the sun! ftOpen stands New gate, Hither throng the Nations ; In these Halls they joyous wait With a world's creation*'. Far tho clarion notes aro blown, She is famed, who was unknown ! Here is shewn what she han done, Needs of men supplying; Here is shewn what may bo won, Dearth and death defying ; Through Colonial rigour bml, They shall lead, who once were led ! Wide and wider fling tho gate, Who will aid may enter ; Teacher, artist, man of state, Artisan, inventor; Here a 6turdy people heeds Social laws and labour's needs. j Wider fling the gate, more wide ! See ! the Nations olden, Breasting through a silver tide Seek our borders golden ! Hither comes the fleet that plies With a wide world's merchandise 7. Joyously ! Joyously ! sing triumphal strains of toil victorious ; Joyously!—a Colony begun is waxed to Nation glorious! World-renowned ! World-ienowned ! she serene shall sit in her security: Praise to God for aid in younger days, and pray for aid through glad maturity !