COMPETITIVE POEMS ON AUCKLAND.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 95, 8 July 1882, Page 265

COMPETITIVE POEMS ON AUCKLAND.

The follo-vring is a selection from the best of the unsuccessful competitive poems on "Auckland " :— AUCKLAND : A Sonnet. Queen of the Ocean, Valley, Hill, and Wold ! Thou sit" sb enthroned, in Nature's garb arrayed, A verdure-robed, clematiS'girdled Maid ; Thy bosom nursing blossom-gems, to braid Bright tresses, span from out the heart of gold Thou bear'st within ; the while .thine eyes behold An everlasting Spring in plain and glade, Yielding health, plenty, peace, and joys untold ! Who once hath clasp'd thy gentle, loving hand, May view the wonders of an older world ; May linger long in many a distant land ; But aye his spirit, wheresoe'er he roam, Will restless burn to see those sails uufurl'd That quick shall waft him back to Thee and Home ! AUCKLAND. (" When the poor Maori (who is now the source of all Auckland poetry) has melted, here will be the marvel of the earth. . . ■ . I see no reason why Auckland should not rival London." — Anthong Trollope.) O ! Mistress of rich seas, whose every billow Hath hymned a hope, or been a. warrior's pillow ; Mother of Volcanic Isles, whose every cave Hath borne the glory of some Maori brave ! — Whose shores a martial echo still repeat, And show the war-prints of Imperial feet ; — Where but to thee shall youthful spirits hie, Finding an -El Dorado in thy bosom lie ! O ! scenes where Selwyn lived and Hobsou died, Auckland ! of the angel-sun the chosen bride. How dost thou win oar worship ! To thy shores, Zealandia's Eden though profaned by crime, How flies Tjintutored Poesy, and pours Its song of triumph on thy hills sublime. Pavillioned by the skies ! The time shall be Thy sons may find a music in thy name, To rouse deep faucies and opinions free ; Affection fervid as the sun's bright flame, And sympathies mifathomed as the sea. AUCKLAND. Nestling 'neabh the sloped of Eden, By the Waitemata's shore, Auckland sits, a thing of beauty, And a joy for evermore.

Put forth thy full strength, and thou'rt destined to be The great mart of commerce and pride of the sea t Environed with beauty from Nature's own hand, v ■ Renowned as the peerless throughout the broad land, If guided by wisdom tbou'rt destined to be The foremost in commerce and queen of the 3ca ! AUCKLAND. ■ ■ Ye busy throngs that pace .the bustling street, For one short moment pause, whilst I repeat Your city's story : How, short while ago, Where now this noble street, beneath the glow Of _ Vesper suu, extends both far and wide, With lofty buildings towering on each side, There was but waste ; and where, with statoly grace Yon noble ship bedecks the ocean's face, Perchance some savage, iv his light canoe, ■ Dreamt of the battle of the foes he slew, Or to some damsel strove that tale to tell Which ye, fair Auckland maidens, know so well. All praise to thoe, great city, and thy race ; May thy fair children ne'er be cramped for space, As is thy bard. Ah me ! 'twere basest wrong To mete thy praises in this small oblong. A cynical poet horcls in the following strain : — AUCKLAND. O, shoddery, snobbery, Jam-tart hobnobbery, You ain't in our set— a i t ! i Young City. - A bank-clerk And land-shark, Ironware and soft-goods kind of » Young City. A naturally-beautiful, Think itself musical, Singing and winging kind of „. „ „ . . Young City. A drinking and winking, Spooning and mooning, Ball-giving, fast-living, kind of Young City. AUCKLAND. A uckland ! chief city of the North ! U pon thy beauties I would sing — C an feeble words thy praise speak forth ? K nown as^New Zealand's queen, L ong may'st thou reign as such, we pray, A nd may there aye be found N ew beauties in thy— a— thy— a— a— D amn it, give me the pound ! And I'll write you a poem some other time, When my brain is clear, and tlie moon don't shine! But just 'cause you ask me to do it, you know I can't get that jade, my muse, to go. '

Fair she sits, enthroned in glory, All so beautiful and bright : Flashing pack the morning sunbeams, Kissing'back the sun's good-night. ■ Wealth of loveliness her dowry, "Which to all she proudly shows, And which, in chameleon changings. Ever varies, ever glows. Yet, c'en as a charming maiden Shows to all her beauty bright, Yet reserves a thousand beauties Hid away from public sight : So fair Auckland, like that maiden, Of her charme gives but a peep ; Thousands more away are hidden In the. cosy hollows deep : — Stately mansion, trellised cottage, Sparkling rill, or ferny dell, Nestle — hid away in foliage — 'Twixt each lull-top's rounded swell ; Hidden charms, that she revealeth But to those who know her well. AUCKLAND. Unrivalled in the charms which poets prize — , The bold, commanding site : the noble sweep Along the harbour side ; the varied scenes Of sylvan beanty which enshrine thy charms — Our own fair Auckland ! thou wilt ever be The queen of cities in our island home. ' Thou dost not boast the noble works of art, The proud cathedrals and the palaces Of Florence and of Borne ; and yet thou hast A richer setting than imperial Rome Or Arno's classic city. Thou shalt yet Be great, as well as bountiful and fair ;. For British hearts shall love, and British skill Adorn the gem by Waitemata's shores. AUCKLAND. Hail ! Auckland, fair city ! thou'rt destined to be The emporium of commerce and pride of the sea ! Thy white sails, like sea-birds, o'er the ocean shall sweep, And thy steam-driven keels cleave the foam of the deep; Earth's treasure shall gather from island and main, And rich-freighted shall seek thy fair haven again. Then awake froni supinage.; thy prestige maintain | See ! the Union already invade thy domain. , . ■ i. • ,