James Patrick O'Hara the Justice of Peace,
He bossed the P.M. and he bossed the police;
A parent, a deacon, a landlord was he-
A townsman of weight was O-Hara, J.P.

He gave out the prizes, foundation-stones laid,
He shone when the Governor-s visit was paid;
And twice re-elected as Mayor was he-
The flies couldn-t roost on O-Hara, J.P.

Now Sandy M-Fly, of the Axe-and-the-Saw,
Was charged with a breach of the licensing law-
He sold after hours whilst talking too free
On matters concerning O-Hara, J.P.

And each contradicted the next witness flat,
Concerning back parlours, side-doors, and all that;
-Twas very conflicting, as all must agree-
-Ye-d better take care!- said O-Hara, J.P.

But -Baby,- the barmaid, her evidence gave-
A poor, timid darling who tried to be brave-
-Now, don-t be afraid-if it-s frightened ye be-
-Speak out, my good girl,- said O-Hara, J.P.

Her hair was so golden, her eyes were so blue,
Her face was so fair and her words seemed so true-
So green in the ways of sweet women was he
That she jolted the heart of O-Hara, J P.

He turned to the other grave Justice of Peace,
And whispered, -You can-t always trust the police;
-I-ll visit the premises during the day,
-And see for myself,- said O-Hara, Jay Pay.
(
Case postponed
.)


-Twas early next morning, or late the same night-
--Twas early next morning- we think would be right-
And sounds that betokened a breach of the law
Escaped through the cracks of the Axe-and-the-Saw.
And Constable Dogherty, out in the street,
Met Constable Clancy a bit off his beat;
He took him with finger and thumb by the ear,
And led him around to a lane in the rear.

He pointed a blind where strange shadows were seen-
Wild pantomime hinting of revels within-
-We-ll drop on M-Fly, if you-ll listen to me,
-And prove we are right to O-Hara, J. P.--

But Clancy was up to the lay of the land,
He cautiously shaded his mouth with his hand-
-Wisht, man! Howld yer whisht! or it-s ruined we-ll be,
-It-s the justice himself-it-s O-Hara, J.P.-

They hish-d and they whishted, and turned themselves round,
And got themselves off like two cats on wet ground;
Agreeing to be, on their honour as men,
A deaf-dumb-and-blind institution just then.

Inside on a sofa, two barmaids between,
With one on his knee was a gentleman seen;
And any chance eye at the keyhole could see
In less than a wink -twas O-Hara, J.P.

The first in the chorus of songs that were sung,
The loudest that laughed at the jokes that were sprung,
The guest of the evening, the soul of the spree-
The daddy of all was O-Hara, J.P.

And hard-cases chuckled, and hard-cases said
That Baby and Alice conveyed him to bed-
In subsequent storms it was painful to see
Those hard-cases side with the sinful J.P.

Next day, in the court, when the case came in sight,
O-Hara declared he was satisfied quite;
The case was dismissed-it was destined to be
The final case of O-Hara, J.P.

The law and religion came down on him first-
The Christian was hard but his wife was the worst!
Half ruined and half driven crazy was he-
It made an old man of O-Hara, J. P.

Now, young men who come from the bush, do you hear?
Who know not the power of barmaids and beer-
Don-t see for yourself! from temptation steer free,
Remember the fall of O-Hara, J.P.