HONOURING CAPTAIN COOK.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18233, 18 November 1924, Page 4

HONOURING CAPTAIN COOK.

CEREMONY AT HIS BIRTHPLACE. (FB-OK OUi OTTO COBEBSfOKDEKT.) LONDON, October 9. History records that the great navigator who discovered New Zealand w,ae born at tho village of Marton, in Yorkshire. Thousands of Cleveland-born people have lived a lifetime within walking distance of Captain Cook's birthplace without eyer having summoned up enough interest to visit it. A rough stone obelisk high on the lonely Easby hills, and a» inconscpicuous village schoolhouse, to which his nam© is attached, are Cleveland's sole viaiblo efforts to perpetuate the memory of her most famous son. Yesterday a very interesting ceremony took place in the little town of Marton. On the terrace in front of the school where Captain Cook received his early education, the New Zealand Ensign was unfurled in the presence of practically all the inhabitants. The ceremony was held to coincide as near as possible with the annual "Cook celebrations" at Gis borne on the anniversary of Cpok's landing. Captain J. R. Kirk had been entrusted with the flag by the Gisborne school children, and he and Mrs Kirk were present at the ceremony. Sir James Allen, who had been invited to attend, found it impossible to do so. Marton turned out in force, and the assembly included Mr John Blenkey, of High street, Coatham, wherse husband's great-grandmother was Cook's nieo^ As chairman of the Parish Council, Mr H. W. F. BolcEow presided, and, confining himself to historical details, mentioned that Captain Cook first sighted New Zealand on October . 6th, 1769. Two days later, exactly 155 years ago to-day, he took the Endeavour into a bay and made his first landing. The Natives resented his presence, and as they refused him supplies the bay was named Poverty Bay. Since then there Had grown hp on the shores of the bay the thriving town "of Gisborne, the children of which had subscribed for a'flag. Mr Bolckow received the flag from Captain Kirk, who apologised for the absence of the 1 High Commissioner for New Zealand, who hailed Captain Cook as the ■pia.a who paved the way for making New Zea* land one of the most prosperous of the British overseas dominions. Captain Kirk explained the circumstances under which the flag was given, and the way Captain Cook was honoured by the people of Gisjjorne. In New Zealand monuments were effected to tho memory of famous their (biographies were read, and children were brought up with the idea of emulating the magnificent services such men had rendered to the Empire. The Girl Guides, under Miss Bolckow, received the flag, which was hoisted and broken by Mrs Kirk.