RHYMES FOR THE TIMES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue XI, 15 September 1894, Page 247

RHYMES FOR THE TIMES.

CASUAL LINES ON COLONIAL LIONS. OUR VAGRANT VERSIFIER. I.—THE RAILWAY FADDIST. To Mr Samuel Vaile : Dea.- Sir. —Here’s wishing you success, There’s more than me would like to see your rippin’ cheap express : We’d like to take a daily jaunt along the iron track. Or ramp the Missus and the kids to Morrinsville and back. But, sir, I cannot understand those arbitrary blokes Who keep a shovin’ in your wheels unnecessary spokes, For nothing could show fairer to a man of commonsense Than to travel on the railroad at another chap’s expense. They say, sir, if you had your way the cunning cent, per cent. Who owns the land outside the town would go and raise the rent ; And they ask you where the joke comes in in travelling at your ease, Though it be done for nothin’, through a land of absentees. 1 do not hold with stuff like that, but, sir, I’d like to know If you conldn’t add a sandwich and a glass of beer or so ; It's precious dry upon the line, and when the thing got stale You could boom it, take my tip, sir, with aglassof Hancock’s ale. And I hope, sir, you’ll remember when you’ve got the railway through, That the ’busses and tbe tramways need a sight o’ mendin’ too. For once you’ve set us movin’ ’twould be cowardice to shirk. Just because the man who pays the rates must stop at home and work. So here’s wishin’ you success, sir, and I’d like you for to know That I’m with you while the lines is free as far as you may go. We’re Liberals, Sam, tbe pair of us, and shan’t we just have scored, When we’ve made the bloomin’ country one big Charitable Board !