In Memoriam.

(Sydney Bulletin.)

[Samuel Duncan Parnell, founder of the Eight Hours' Labour Movement, died at Wellington (N.Z.), where he had lived for 50 years, on December 17. 1890. aged 80.]

A king of men has passed away—
Not from a palace great,
But from a simple cottage home,
Devoid of pomp and state—
An uncrowned king, a Grand Old Man,
Who loved the people well,
The author of the Eight Hours Plan
Of Campaign—our Parnell!

His Home Rule was to rule the time
For us to work—and rest;
To give fair play in every clime
To all with toil oppressed,
To all the victims of the greed
Of those who buy and sell
The starving workers in their need—
True king was our Parnell!

No stain has ever soiled his name,
No Royal vice had he;
His reign was pure and free from blame
Of kingly tyranny;
The grinding power of Usury
From labour to repel,
And free the workers from its grasp—
Strove all his life, Parnell!

He worked with head—with heart and hand
From early youth to age,
And in a new unfettered land
He taught this precept sage.
"Eight hours for work, eight hours for play
And eight for sleep excel."
This was the charter for each day
Of our wise king, Parnell!

He lived a life of noble toil.
With health and leisure crowned;
Nor fawned he e'er for Fortune's smile
Nor feared her when she frowned;
Against devouring Mammon Greed
He taught us to rebel,
"Eight hours each day for work" decreed—
The worker's king, Parnell!

He resteth from his labours now;
At four score years and one
His happy spirit passed away
To realms beyond the sun;
His name, for ages, will remind
True men of one who well
Deserved the love of all his kind—
New Zealand's own Parnell!

Alexander Stuart.