THE ENGINE-CLEANER.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 62

THE ENGINE-CLEANER.

It's take your tucker and tea It's doff your "dandies" and don dungaree, And away to the engine shed, Where the engine must wait if the cleaner's late, And the boss may tell you to "bring your bed."

The tireless giantess grants and spits, And takes up her place on the engine pits, "While the cleaner gets his bare dole of oil, And prepares to tackle his ten hours' toil — For a poor three "bob" and two threepenny

Oh, it's kerosene oil and waste! It's bathbrick, fat, and paste! But what makes her look spruce is tha

elbow juice, And the heart with wliicli the task is faced. She's dirty, and gritty, and, all over dust, Tunnel-steam spots and beginnings of rust; Her back is all smoked and her spark-catcher choked, Her ioints must be cleaned and hei smoketubes poked, And the cleaner must do it, or stand being

''cussed."

Oh, it's kerosene oil and waste! It's bathbrick, fat, and paste! But what makes her look spruce is the

elbow juice, And the heart with which the task is faced. Amidst steam, soot, grit, and oil, Must the engine-cleaner toil, And clean out his eight-score -tubes of grit, Brighten the brasses and make her fit, And "finish her off" with a fancy "coil." Oh, it's kerosene oil and waste! It's bathbrick, fat, and paste! But what makes her look spruce is tho

elbow juice, And the heart with -which the fask is faced. You bagmen who travel by train, Should you chance on this rough refrain, Have a thought for the cleaner who toilecl all night, To turn out yon engine spank and bright (And a polished engine's a pretty sight!). j itnd to* speak for him don't disdain. I) Now, friend of the vs orking-man, Reconcile, if you can, Your professions loud to a credulous crowcl (Whose votes put yoti in your position, proud — And can also weave a political shroud!) With the miserly pay of the cleaners per day — • . ' ■ ■% About fcrarpence per hour, I'm ashamed tot

say — Whom you promised to help when they yoifc ' endowed. ' —BACKWOODSMAN-

Malieno. November, 1900

Tana Taingakawa te Waharoa, the Maori! Cl Premier," and chief adviser to King Mahuta, is at present on a visit to Tauranga, on political matters.