CAPTAIN COOK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 821, 21 May 1910, Page 14

CAPTAIN COOK.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL. WELLINGTON COMMITTEE FORMED. The movement which has for its object tho erection of a worthy memorial to Captain Cook either at Ship Cove, in Queen Charlotte Sound, or on Motuara Island, bids fair to loom largo in the public eye before many weeks Jiavo passed. The Cook Memorial Fund .Committee, whose headquarters arc at Picton, lias arranged with Mr. Robert M'Nab to deliver lectures in aid of the fund throughout New Zealand. Tho subject-matter of the lectures will bo closely connected with Captain Cook and the early history of New Zealand, topics on which Mr. M'Nab is a recognised authority. During his late researches in America, England, Paris, and elsewhere, ho has made valuable additions to his store of historical material relating to this country, and it is understood that he will bo able to show some interesting lantern pictures not before seen by the local public. According to a provisional itinerary, the first of the lectures will be delivered at Invorcargill on July 1, and.the date proposed for a lecture in Wellington is July 15. The committee at Picton having sent circulars to tho Mayor of Wellington. (Mr. Wilford) and leading citizens, asking for, their co-operation .and interest, Mr. Wilford took the matter up, and as a result of 'hie initiative ho found himself presiding over a meeting of educationists, city councillors, and others in Ms room at the Town Hall on Thursday evening. The Mayor said. he desired ,to assist the movement by ?*«4uJJiig a number of influential citizen* «s "oeoome members of a local committee, with tho view of making Mr. M'Nab , s lecture in Wellington as successful as possible. He regarded the cause as a very good one from the point of view of commemorating a great man and also from the educational point of view. Ho had received letters apologising for absence and expressing willingness to servo on the commitfajo from a number of leading citizens.

Mr. G. Hogben said the lecture would be very .valuable through bringing before the people a knowledge of tho greatness of Cook, and tho great value of his work in the South Pacific— facts which woro not sufficiently appreciated. There was hardly any doubt that but for a mere accident his work as a discoverer would have been greater than that of Columbus. In fact, if one looked at the work itself, rather . than at tho result, it was much greater. Tho movement was worthy of strong and strenuous efforts in its support. Ho suggested that ; a reproduction of a picture of Ship Cove, painted by one of Cook's companions, should bo circulated in a leaflet. ■

Professor. Hunter commended tho movement from tho point of view of tho desirability of more teaching of history. No country, he could get a proper historical perspective without a knowledge of its own history. Every schoolboy and girl, over n certain age, should bo enabled to attend the lecture. Mr. M'Nab, in his historical researches, had dono good work for Now Zealand, and for tho world as a whole.

Mr. H. N. liardet also warmly supported tho project. Ho suggested that as the Town Hall would probably not bo large enough for the adults who would wish to attend a inatinoe lecture for children should bo given. It was resolved that' those present, and others who had signified their willingness to act, should become a committee for tho promotion of tho lecture and its object. Tho committee was constituted oa follows:—The Mayor (convener), Sir Robert Stout, Mr. Justice Chapman, tho Hon. T. Mackenzie, Professor Mackenzie, Professor Hunter, Councillors Luke, Smith, Ballinger, Cohen, Hindmarsh, Devino, Fletcher, Shirtcliffe, Atkinson, Morrah, Frost, Trevor, and Fitzgerald, Messrs. E TreKoar, A. Hamilton, G. Hogben, H. Baillio, S. A. Atkinson, G. Burney G Nash, M. Carmody, J. J. O'Brien, R J. White, A. G. Fell, G. Fell, C. Weston, S. Sweeney, H. N. Liardet, and G. R. H. Ibbetson, with power to add to tho number.

Mr. A. F. Harding waa appointed secretary to the committee.