“PROSPER OTAGO”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26703, 24 February 1948, Page 8

“PROSPER OTAGO”

A SONG OF THE ’SEVENTIES This poem was written in the ’seventies by an officer of the Otago Battalion of that time, probably Captain Bathgate, and was handed by him one morning to the officer-command-ing the Otago and Southland Volunteer Districts, Major J. J. Atkinson. That night, at a Volunteer social. Major Atkinson sang it, to the tune of "Wait for the Wagon.” Mr J. H. Atkinson, of Timaru, a son of the major, in sending the Daily Times a copy of the poem, remarks that he is not aware that it has ever appeared in print.

Green are thy hills, Otago, And clear thy mountain streams, And beautiful at sunrise, Thy lake-like harbour gleams. The yellow corn is waving Upon thy fertile plains, And countless flocks are roaming O’er thy mountain chains. Within the rugged valleys, Upon the river shore. The hardy miner labours And earns a golden store; The rocks are filled with treasure, Thy very sand is steel, And untold wealth is hidden For the worker to reveal. Dunedin in her beauty, For thee a fitting queen Spreads far and wide her border Amid the water’s sheen. And there her busy merchants Have keels upon the strand, With costly produce laden From many a distant land. Long years she lay unconscious, Unknowing and unknown; Over her radiant features A veil of darkness thrown; But lo!’ A bright winged spirit, From distant northern isles. Breathed gently o’er her slumbers And waked her with a smile. Hurrah for thee, Otago, . The new home of our choice. Our children in the future Will in thy strength rejoice. And living here our energies, To forward thee, we’ll lend, And life itself thy liberty We’ll render to defend.