WANGANUI

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1685, 15 June 1904, Page 61

WANGANUI

(By John Young.)

i. THE ADVENTUROUS PIONEERS. Upon an eminence I stood, By Wanganui’s noble flood, An outlook to obtain. I saw her waters seaward trend. And ’thwart the river’s westward bend, I viewed the Southern Main. I saw, and lo! a gallant craft, With canvas hauling fore-and-aft, Of jib, and fore, and main ; And there a cutter’s saucy form. Each beating windward ’gainst the storm, The river’s mouth to gain. Their dripping sides and canvas white Reflect the warning western light, As Sol th’ horizon neared. And, tack by tack, they nearer drew, Until each brave and dauntless crew Beyond the bar appeared. The sweeps out,span, the lcwlocks ring, The dingeys from the davits swing, The tow begins at last; To cross the treach’rous bar between, With every sense alert and keen, Until the danger’s past. Where are they now, those hearts of oak. Who admiration strong invoke? Beneath the sod they sleep, Or, ’neath the brimming ocean’s crest Have found their long, long place of rest, Full many a fathom deep. Those, those were men of sterling worth, Who saw our Southern Empire’s birth— As valiant and as brave As Hudson and liis gallant crew, ■When on their fatal quest they flew Across th’ Atlantic wave. 11. A BEAUTEOUS SCENE. Whoe’er surveys “the landscape o’er,” Of Wanganui’s vale, With simple store of poet’s lore, It’s grandeur must prevail. With inspiration’s keener sight, He’ll view the region round, As on a shield, with town and field, By hilly bulwarks bound. He will not seek to mark or trace It’s form in days of old, When o’er its base, with rapid pace, Tho swelling ocean rolled. . He will not reck of plant or shell, The truth to testify, Of aeons past, absorbed at last Into eternity. He asks not did it rise above Tho water’s landward flow, As by a leap from ocean deep, Or process long and slow. At night’s mid-hour I wandered forth, The beauteous scene to view. The moon’s pale glint a silver tint O’er all the valley threw. Yon river flowed with misty glow, By shimmering moonbeam cast; The waters splash with, silvery flash, And lisping, gurgle past.

Howe’er enchantment’s spell me binds, I may not further stay. For duty’s call, o’er-riding all, No longer brooks delay. I ask not for thee, wealth, which may Thy better self enthrall; But Plenty’s store at every door, And sunshine over all. 111. THE FAMOUS INCIDENT AT MQTJTOA ISLAND. Oh! Wanganui, list with care! And for the direful news prepare; Fain would we all thy dangers share, By threat’ning tempests tossed. For, nearer still, and yet more near, In hostile guise they fees appear, To plunge thy wives and children dear, In one fell holocaust. Down Wanganui’s surging tide, The treacherous foemen swiftly glide, And hasten to thy river’s side'. For blood and death athrist; And onward come,, with tautened sail, Anticipate the helpless wail, Nor tears nor prayers will aught avail, If that dread storm should burst. Tliy valiant sons are distant far, Embattled in the northern war, A conflict which must make or mar The hopes of many a one; For numerous tribes, at one fell stroke, From Britain’s mild allegiance broke, And war’s arbitrament invoke,. Beneath the southern sun.

Recall from out the northern fray Thy champions, with their whole array, And homeward turn without delay, Nor march with trump or drum; Bid thy brave sons return amain. Their rapid footsteps southward strain— Unless their homes .they quickly gain, Sure thy last hour is come!

But, what see I on yonder strand? A valiant, brave and warlike band.

Around their chieftain firmly stand, In panoply of war. On wings of wind, with hurrying feet,From right and left together meet. And silently each other greet — They come from near and far. WTiy are they thus, in war array, Beside the river’s silver spray ? Let Wanganui’s waters say, And let her waves reply ; They come to render friendship’s meed* To meet th’ oncoming toe with speed, To help their friends in direst need’, To conquer or to die. And now athwart the river’s span, Save where the midstream current ran. With Mete Kingi in the van, A brave flotilla floats; Their bows the rippling waters spurn, The paddles all the eddies churn, The vanguard leading round each turn Each threatening aspect notes. And thus, at length, appears in sight, Moutoa’s Island, looming bright, With surging currents foaming whit®, Around its rocky coast. They land upon the southern shore, The chief surveys his comrades o’er, Marches the silent band before, To meet th’ opposing host. The battle joins, the conflict rings,. Each warrior at his foeman springs, The strife around each chieftain clings, The fierce fight rages round; As bends the tali tree to the blast, When limbs and branches round are cast. Torn from their sockets, firm and fast, And, falling, strew the ground. The Hau-haus break. Behold, they fly 0 Persued, o’erta’en, they grimly die—• For the canoes the remnant try, And some must try in vain; The victors raise a joyful shout, ►Surrey the wild and deadly rout, Scattered the fatal isle about, The dying and the slain. What shall we say for those who died, Sighting so bravely, side by side. For Pakeha friends, “Like brother# tried,’’ How bravely, who can tell? They died to save the weak and small. Responsively to friendship’s call, “Requiescant in pace,” all, May tbwy sleep sound and well. IV. REFLECTIONS ON THE' PAST. Thou restless, flowing stream, Within thy oozv bed, When Sol’s uprising beam, In rich effulgence shed, Thy sparkling surface blazes o’er. And ripples shine from shore to shore. Princess of streams art thou, None can with thee compare; On thy majestic brow The coronet shines fair : Upon thy banks and braes are shown, Surpassing beauties, all their own. On many a long-gone day Drawn fey thy fairy spell. When Sol’s departing ray, Upon thy bosom fell, I walked thy banks in manhood’s pride* And joyed to see thy flowing tide. Where are my friends of yore? ®Who round my memory cling, . Will naught the past restore, To me lost friendship bring, As lonesome Tong thy banks I pace s And miss each well-remembered face. Thou say’st we’ll meet again, I hear thee whisper still; This will my life sustain Through every fleeting ill; To meet those friends who’ve gone Upon a bright and happier shore. This is our steadfast faith, Whatever may betide Through earthly toil and scathe, , .We’ll gain the other side—- . That land which o’er the barrier lies, Where hope in full fruition dies.