Poverty Bay.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 399, 25 April 1902, Page 3

Poverty Bay.

(To tho Editor of the Times,) Sir, —We have heard a lot recently with regard to changing the name of Poverty Bay, but as far as I can seo not one sound reason has beon put forward for doing so. Those who have read up the early history of New Zealand know, how the term

“ Poverty ” came to be given to the bay, aud would it not be a slur on that illustrious navigator, Captain Cook, if we sought to change it? This district is more closely associated with Captain Cook than any other part of New Zealand, and we should be proud of the faot that the bay was christened by him, even although his treatment by the natives caused him to give it such an opprobrious title. I should like to ask you, Mr Editor, what right every passing skipper who puts in here for an hour or so has to diotate to us as to what name we should ; givo the bay ? Would the fact of our jehanging it cause him to stay any longer or make more frequent visits to it? Would it increase the value of our exports by a single pound ? I think not. Any uick, Tom, or Harry iti Gisborne has just as much right to dictate to a captain of a ship as to what he should call his vessel. No doubt many of those who suggest a change in the name of the port are oblivious of the manner in which it obtained that name, and their interference is more due to ignorance than anything else.’ Some like the Premier to come along and try to be funny, and ring off some old chestnut like the following r “ Poverty Bay,” what a name; “fancy eating mutton from Poverty Bay.” It probably amuses them,

iUiCUiJ t — '*/ , ' and it certainly does not hurt the mutton. It is to my mind the best advertisement the mutton could have. A man who got hold of a really good sheep from Poverty Bay would always ask for the same brand, again. If I had my way I should have sheep sent out of the district branded “ Poverty Bay.” But to return to my friend Captain Cook. Coronation Day is coming along, and we will be having a quiet little flutter in this district. Let us do something to commemorate the occasion in a proper manner. Do not let us make us fooh. by changing the name of the Bay, but let us erect a statue to that great navigator. This monument would stand for all time, and would be looked upon with pleasure by succeeding generations. In

no part of the colony is there a statue to Captain Cook, and, what is more fitting than that, Poverty Bay should take the lead in this matter. The movement svould be readily taken up throughout the colony, and the neoessary funds would quickly be supplied. The idea could be worked in with the new town clock, and I feel sure that our “Liberal." Government would be good enough for a thou-