A NEW ZEALAND CENTENARY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2380, 9 February 1915, Page 7

A NEW ZEALAND CENTENARY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, In Dr. M'Nab's latest work, I'rom 'l'asman to Marsden," he mentions a fact that'should surely appeal • ihi V - ea :' allt lers in this present year ot 1915, tlie centenary of the event mentioned; It is the birth of the first white child in New Zealand. 'This event occurred at Rangihoua,' in the Ua.y ofblands, on Tutisdkj', February -1,_1815. Marsden had only recently arrived ( there ih the missionary, brig Activo, bought in Sydney, and after preachiiig his first sermon on Christmas Day, 1814$ proceeded to establish the mission. With Marsdeii on the Active were tiyo mechanics, William Ball, a ship builder, and John King, a flasllresser and twine and ropenlalcer., They were engaged in England at a remuneration of £20 a year (under:the present union wages, by the way)/ and each ii a „, child with them. In j • Nib's book, at page. 185, after describing the purchase by the Church "J'ssionary Society of the mission site ot .00 acres for twelve axes, on Friday, ■ it°£ ual 'y. 1815, tho account says: Altet this document had been executed, Marsden cihristened the son of Mr. tind Mrs. King, born there ,on February 21—the first European child born in New Zealand;" • This.boy-child, the son. of a flaxdresser and twind; and ropet l ™' was the first white child born in New Zealand. It is interesting to record that we have with us still the first European child born in the South Island, in the veteran whaler Captain tlohn Guard, of Port Underwood, who was born at Te Awaiti, iii Tory Channel, and is himself the son of a sea captain iind whaler; Not every country can proudly point to the first European child born oil its shores, but in the South Island at least they can say at the present day "there is the first one.'' nr ,P a 2 e .188 in "From Tasman to Marsden,"_ is recorded tho birth of the 6econd white child and. the first girl of European parentage in New Zealand. This eveijt occurred in the same year, 1815, on Sunday, May 28, at tho same place, R&ngihoiia, Bay of Islands, and her parents were Wiiliam Hall, the ship- ' builder and his wife, brought to New Zealand by Marsden'. Ido not think that two such historic events as, the oentenaries of the birth of the first boy and girl in New Zealand should bo allowed to pass unheeded by the present generation. I have written' this letter in the hope that the matter 'will' be taken up and celebrated with enthusiasm throughout New Zealand. At present a devastating war .is in progress on the other side .of the globe, that is one reason why we require something, to divert our thoughts from the all-absorbing topic occasionally, and here, then, is an opportunity to do sd, and prove we can rouse ourselves from our seeming apathy with regard to these , matters, and now and then give attention to the early days in New Zealand. And What better way can we have of showing our appreciation of the efforts of that noble little band that has gone befbre us, than by honouring their memory on every possible occasion ? This is a matter that might well be made a national one; yet it would come becomingly to be initiated ill the I capital City/of New Zealand. . Pel-haps -the tiine in too short to do very much before February 21, whioh falls on a Sunday this year, but I Would suggest that a service of. publio thanksgiving be held in the Town Hall, and that the churcheß make special references to the event on that day. It is only by seizing Upon occasions like this that we can do honour to those jvuo have laboured so strenuously for us in the past. Coining to the later ..date, Sunday, May 28; 1815, when the first little girl in New Zealand was born— fittingly enoughon a_ Sunday, as all, little, girls are , good—-it is conceivable that something more elaborate might be attempted. The centenary might very well be duly celebrated off that day. May 28, as a tribute to the birthday of the first little girl 'in New Zealand. Sufficient,money would no .doubt be forthcoming from, enthusiasts alone to erect some kind of memorial with a tablet chronicling the nature of the two events, to be erected on the spot at llahgihpua, in the Bay of Islands. From' all over New Zealand subscriptions woiild be cheerfully given for such a worthy object, there is little doubt. •Again, if the idea T/as taken up to any extent, a public holiday could be proclaimed, *• and ■processions ' organised throughout New Zealand, . with' appropriate tableaux, illustrating the hrst christenings of native-born New Zealandars' and other historical events. This i 6 a matter that purely the New Zealand Natives' Association might Well consider. Prizes might be given to school children in each- school for essays dealing with the Same events, 1 and tli6 ■ contrast between those days., and the present.' _' Commemorative medallions could be given to all male children born on February 21, 1915, a"nd to all female children born .on May 28, 1915, or to all children with birthdays on fc those dates. A competition might be arranged for the best sketch, watercolour, oils, or pencil, or pen and ink, giving as lifelike a representation as possible of thescene i in the Bay of Islands at tho christening of those children in 1815. ' . These are only a few ideas ventured to show what might be organised if sufficient interest were taken in the subject in New Zealand. On February 21 next, however, a thanksgiving service ■shoujd_ surely be held throughout the Dominion, whilst it would bo equally satisfactory to leam that sufficient money were forthcoming some, time this year, at any,, rate, to enable a memorial of some description to be erected on. the spot at the Bay of Islands. An event of., this nature ranks of almost equal importance to the discoveries of Captain Cook, duly commemorated by the unveiling of a memorial at Ship Cove on. February 11, 1912, and is part of our national education. It is to be hoped, . therefore, that thiß matter will be taken up in a proper manner, and. that Dr. M'Nab, whose historical works are such a boon to all pre-sent-day. New Zealandors, will take a fitting part in any, celebrations that take place. No doubt, liianythrdUghout New Zealand would be willing to contribute tlioir mite towards such an object as the above, iii spite of the ■ many calls on our purses just now. Is this'a matterthat tho New Zealand Natives' Association would foster?—l am, otc.j A PRESENT-DAY PAKEHA.