Cheer, Boys, Cheer (III -- New Zealand)

DESCRIPTION: "Cheer, boys, cheer, the polling day's before us, Head of the poll we'll have our hero brave... Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll crush the Wakefield faction... Cheer, boys, cheer, for gallant Featherston." "May God defend the right"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1858 (Wellington _Independent_, according to Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ)
KEYWORDS: political New Zealand nonballad
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1858 - election pitting radical Ashton St Hill against incumbent Isaac Featherston in the contest for Superintendent of Wellington province. Featherston was re-elected (source: Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ)
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ, p. 25, "Cheer, Boys, Cheer" (1 text)
NOTES [158 words]: Said to be to the tune of "Cheer, Boys, Cheer," but it's not clear which song of that name is meant. Presumably it was the tune that Charles R. Thatcher (for whom see "Where's Your License") created his own "Cheer, Boys, Cheer" parody.
According to Gordon McLauchlan, editor-in-chief, New Zealand Encyclopedia, David Bateman Limited, 1984, pp. 178-179, "FEATHERSTON, Isaac Earl (1813-1876) was born in England and graduated as a physician in Edinburgh in 1836. He sailed for New Zealand as a surgeon on the New Zealand Company's vessel, Olympus, in 1840, and became a well-known politician in the early days of the colony." He served in elective office (initially Superintendent of Wellington Province) 1853-1870,and was Member of Parliament for that entire period. He also fought in the Maori Wars, being awarded the New Zealand Cross for his efforts. He ended his career as New Zealand's Agent-General to London fro 1871 until his death. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.2
File: BaRo025

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