A SONG OF EMPIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 61

A SONG OF EMPIRE.

The Dresden Wellington branch send us a copy of this capital patriotic song. The words are from the pen of Mr Liddell Kelly, who is well known to Witness readers as author and journalist. The music is hy Mr Alec. Hill, whose previous compositions, '"Rosemary," "Shadows," etc., are sufficient credentials in the past. The present eflort \vill, we are sure, meet with universal approval, not only on account of the high literary standard 1 of th^ v otds, but aIBO for the sterling quality of the music. The publishers are ilessrs Reyno'&s and Co., London. We subjoin the words of the song- — It will come, in a burst of splendour, From skies o'erclouded late, The dawn of a wider Fieedom, The birth of a purer State. Sen-sundered, many, and scattered, We shall face the world as one — One People, one Faith, one Country, One Flag, beneath Freedom's Sun! Hail to out; country! Hail to our realm! Peerless by land and sea! Blessings attend her— Heaven defend her — Land of the brave and fiee! It is coming, that glorious morrow ; We have watered Empire's seed With the dews of a common sorrow And sacrifice and need; In the earth's most darkened places The star of 'our might has shone ; We have lifted the buidened races, Bade Slavery's curse begone! Refiam. — " Hail to our countiy," &c. It comes— it comes — it is written In the starry Book of Fate — The Greater and Brighter Britain, The higher and purer State! If we cherish each great tradition And strive as our fathers strove, We shall lise to our noble mission And mle the world in love! Refrain. — •" Hail to our countiy, " &c. Wellington. J. Liddell Kelly. The Victorian chief inspector of factories, confirms the statement that Chinese are gradually driving Europ-eans oui of the Melbourne furniture trade, and says he is well aware that the Chinese are evading the pro-\ isions of the Factories Act, but it ig veiy difficult to get convictions, the masters and men leaguing together + o defeat t^» la.iv. We read of love, we read of war, Of val'rous deeds and mystic lore. But then, we've read of it before, And yearn for something newer. There's nothing fresh, the world is stale^ And weary a s a twice told tale. Yet stay ! when coughs and colds prevail, There's Woods' Gekat Peppermist Cvkb.