An Ode To A Road

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 June 1948, Page 4

An Ode To A Road

(The Wangaenu Valley). We have a road, a road, a road, The Mangamahu River Road. To drive upon this road in summertime Is a joy, oh’ how happy and sublime. To do the same in Winter’s grip, ’Tis something of a fearin' ruddy trip; Our chains we use. our shovels, too, Our language makes your ears burn, too. Through ruts and bogs of muddy slush, The words again would make you blush. The engineer, he beats the band, And uses nothing more than sand 'Tis spread thinly on the big long bluff, This thrice accursed ano useless stuff. And then the rain, a mob of sheep, A couple of cars and t.hm .ve’re neat. Then tjie navvies, out they fly; Oh goody, goody, what a big mud pic! They scrape the mud from where they Over the side; then add more sand, And wh»*n this goes on, and on. and on. It makes you realise why the settlers tingle! Why the blazes don'r. they use good river shingle; A huge big pit of this can be had Scarce two miles from where the road is bad Wo wonder when the “Heads that he." The writing on the wall will sec, “Rc'p f°r settlers in the bark country! ' LONG SUFFERING SETTLER, Mangamahu, June 29, 1948.