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Blue Mountain Rhymes, Grave and Gay
by R. Ogilvie Rodger,
published by Quin & Rodger, Tapanui 1914, p. 7
Verses on My Friend D.D.
Written about David Dickison
I know a man of sterling worth,
He came here when a shavey,
And from the Bluff to Auckland North
There's few as good as Davie.
He's prospered too, for he's been spry,
And oft worked like a navy;
And good luck good with him, say I,
For no mean man is Davie.
If fell misfortune should befall
His friends, and there's a bevy,
They run to him both one and all,
To be relieved by Davie.
But I don't blame them; if I did
Myself want help, you savee,
I'd go to him and get a quid,
And none would know but Davie.
The widows and the orphans poor,
Whose burdens oft are heavy,
Out of his basket and his store
He succours them, does Davie.
Now you may think that the long bow
I'm drawing rather heavy;
But all will tell you, him who know,
A real white man is Davie.
And when he comes to go aloft,
If good deeds done will save ye,
Then he'll recline on cushions soft,
In realms above, will Davie.
David Dickison came to New Zealand with his parents John Dickison and Margaret (nee Paterson), arriving on the Mariner at Port Chalmers, 2nd June, 1859. The family settled into a house on Dalvey Run, New Years Day 1860. The township of Tapanui was built on this run, which bordered the Pomahaka River east bank, at the Rankleburn, extending west to the Flodden and north to Brooksdale. David's siblings arriving with him were: Eliza, Isabella, John, Margaret and Jane. Isabella married James Rodger, a brother of R. O. Rodger. Margaret married another brother Alexander Rodger. Eliza married John Edgar with Jane marrying James Paterson. David and John married respectively Majory Fleming and Mary Munro.
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