'MAORILAND.’

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XXII, 30 November 1895, Page 675

'MAORILAND.’

SOME months ago we published some stanzas by Mr F. D. Fenton with the above title. The newspaper found its way into Yorkshire, and the verses were reprinted by a Yorkshire journal. They seemed to have attracted attention there, mainly, no doubt, from their merits, but partly, perhaps, from the name attached to them, still remembered by some of Mr Fenton’s trends. A gentleman of Bradford, pleased with the lines, set them to music, and sent to Mr Fenton a copy of his production harmonized and printed. There came also two other airs from Huddersfield, but without any accompaniment. Mr Fenton has supplied harmonies to these last two tunes. He had previously set the song to music of his own. Being now possessed of four tunes, thus originated, he determined to try again himself. For this purpose he has revived in New Zealand, and attached to his song the tune, which was sung by General Wolf’s soldiers while bivouacking on the shores of the St. Lawrence before the battle of Quebec. It is believed that this song has never been printed—at least Mr Fenton has never seen it in print, but he remembers hearing it sung on the hillsides of the West Riding when he was a lad. The words he has forgotten except the first line, ‘ Why Should We Melancholy be, Brave Boys ?’

Rossini seems to have heard the tune, and probably hi* upon the same idea in his prayer in • Moses in Egypt.’ General Wolfs melody suits well the words of * Maoriland,’and Mr Fenton has completed the song and offered the composition to us, as having first printed his stanzas. It would be not uninteresting to hear the whole of the songs, now numbering five. Our critic thinks that that of the Bradford gentleman is not the best. We have selected Mr Fenton’s last. Among the many attempts to create for New Zealand a national anthem, Mr Fenton’s will take very high rank. Whether it will arouse the popular enthusiasm necessary to secure a permanent place in the hearts of the people of New Zealand remains to be seen ; but a special degree of interest attaches to all such efforts, and one by Mr Fenton, who has done so much for the cultivation of a love of music in New Zealand, is entitled to a more than ordinary amount of attention from musicians.

2. Oh ! Maoriland. Oh ! valiant band, Who came from England's happy strand, From Caledonia’s storied hills. From where sad harp of Erin thrills. And hail ! Columbia, here's our hand,— Great offspring of our Motherland,— For where all distant lands within We hear our tongue, we claim our kin.

3. Then here's to thee, fair Maoriland, Through the long ages thou shalt stand The Britain of the Southern sea, Land of the brave, home of the free. The ' Cross and Stars ’ shall ever wave Where’er Pacific's waters lave: Whilst English tongue true hearts unite That flag means honour, strength and might