CAPTAIN COOK MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2232, 19 August 1914, Page 7

CAPTAIN COOK MEMORIAL

SIR THOMAS BROCK'S STATUE IN LONDON. A reproach has been removed from the metropolis of bh« Empire. The world navigator, Cook, the discoverer of Britain's Imperial possession in tho . Far South, has at last been duly honoured. Sir Thomas Brock'* statue was unveiled j this week in tho Mall (writes A London correspondent under date of July 10). The spot chosen is close to the Admiralty, at tho Trafalgar Square end of tho great processional way, which also contains Brock's marble memorial to. Queen Victoria. Tho etatiie of Cook is a-bronze of 'heroic siae, and is mounted on a'ike pedestal of white stone, bearing the inscription, "Captain James Cook, 8.N., JF.R.S. Born 1728 j died 1779." It represents the great navigator in the naval uniform of his time, and hft is carrying one of his own charts of the southern seas. Tho balance of the memorial fund will be used to 'place tablets in the yillago of Montoh-in-Gloveldud, Yorkshire, TVhere Cook was born: in Great Ayton, where be was educated; and in Wliitby," where he worked for many years.' There is already a statue of Captain Cook in Yorkshire, amid the scenes of his early life. Hyde Park, Sydney, oan boast of Hie first memorial to Captain Cook, that erected in 1874, and unveiled by Commodore Goodenough. The commodore's widow, who was present at the unveiling in Svdney, was also at the ceremony in the AMI on Tuesday, accompanied by hei son, t!he Rov. Leonard Goodenough. Mention was made in the course,of Tuesday's ceremony of tho memorial in Queensland, near the spot at which the Endeavour was beached for repairs j and that in New Zealand, though, as the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie pointed out, the greatest was tho mountain in the South Island wfcdch bears the name of Cook. The unveiling ceremony was entrusted to Prince Arthur of Connaught. His.Eoyal Highness Was received by Mr. Herbert Samuel, chairman of the executive committee; Mr. Winston .Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty; Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, First Sea Lord of the Admiralty; Dr. Macnamara, M.P., Parliamentary. Sporatary to the Admiralty; and SiT John Aehburn, representing the British Empire League. In an interesting speech Prince ■ Arthur dwelt upon Captain Cook's services as the first of the master builders-of Greater Britain. By his enterprise and capacity, his commanding personality, and his indomitable courage, he won for himself on enduring nomo and for his country vast possessions. It was he who loisted tlie British flag in Australia and New Zealand, and to him more than any. other man was due the fact that tovday those great and flourish'ing Dominions "were members of the British.- Empire. That statue was erected not only as a tribute to tho memory of a great sailor, and in compliment to the navy, but to express their gratitude to Mie man who helned to make to one with Australia and New Zealand. It was in honour of those great Dominions that here, in the metro"polis of the Empire, at the doors of the Admiralty, within sight <sf the home of the MonaTrih, they unveiled this memorial to ono of the most' illustrious of thoir seamen. ' Mr. Winston Churchill proposed a vote of thnnks to Prince Arthur, which was seconded by Sir George Eeid in a few harmy phrases, summing np Australia's gratitude to the man who brought them witWn the Empire. M.r. Peter M'Bride represented Victoria; Sir John Madden and Sir Reginald Talbst were also present, . . ~