Page:The three colonies of Australia.djvu/178

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164
THE THREE COLONIES OF AUSTRALIA.

If I had thought it would have reach'd this pass,
If ever I'd have been the infernal ass
To build a wool-shed, or to put a rod
Of fencing up, or turn a single sod.

Timmins.

At any rate you'll spend the night with me,
And have a bit of damper and some tea;
And now I see it's getting rather late,
So we'll go in and finish the debate.




"THE ASSYRIAN CAME DOWN LIKE THE WOLF ON THE FOLD'

The commissioner 'll come with his wolves to my fold,
And order my station and sheep to be sold;
For of New Regulations I can't pay the fee,
So my fold must go into Gipps' treasury.
 
With their white silky fleeces, my ewes will be seen
Disporting at eve with their lambs on the green
Next morning all dusty, and panting, and hot,
Ewes, wethers, and lambs will be off to the pot;
 
For the gov'nor 'ill issue his new regulations,
That all must pay twice, or p'raps thrice, for their stations;
And the purse of the squatter the treas'ry must fill,
Just as much and as oft as the gov'nor shall will.
 
And there be my wheat to be reap'd by the blacks,
Because I can not pay the governor's tax.
And the huts will be silent, their occupants gone,
The yards all unswept, and the squatter undone.

* * * * *

And the wealth of Australia, wool, commerce, and ships,
Will be melted like wax at the breath of a Gipps.




LORD STANLEY AND MR. CARDWELL.

Scene, the Colonial Office.—Lord Stanley discovered reading the advertisement of the Times, when enters Mr. Cardwell.

THE WOOL LIEN.

Lord Stanley.

Stop, Mr. Cardwell, you have doubtless heard
That New South Wales has got a Constitution:
Such an assembly, I should think, was never
Seen since the time of Romulus—all thieves—
Several who have not yet received their pardons;
And Stephen says they voted it a breach
Of privilege, to pick a member's pocket
While in debate engaged. 'Tis sad to think
The spurious liberalism of the age
Should give such rascals power.

Mr. Cardwell. Sad, indeed!
Lord Stanley.

Well, Sir, these rascals have presumed to make
A law about their filthy sheep and cattle,
For which we've written them a sharp despatch,