COOK MEMORIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 25 July 1902, Page 2

COOK MEMORIAL.

A LETTER FROM MR DELAUTOUR

From Wellington, under date July 20th Mr C. A. DeLautour writes :

“ I was glad to get your letter and enclosures. I will gladly aid in any way tho object of your Committee. It cannot fail to do us all good to get away for a little from the endless struggles after whut wo think will aid us in some practical everyday utilitarian fashion, and this too by no means to ho neglected.

Your Committee, in inviting combination to do honor to one who deserves so well of all Now Zealanders for what ho did in his time, is doing Us this good, and desorves the kindliest aid of all. The value of Cook's work to all English speaking peoples is perhaps hardly yet set sufficiently high. Will not history placo Cook on a level with Drake—without, indeed, Brake's lawlessness Perhaps I shouldn't say that, for Drake lived out his life according to tho light of his day. No doubt he had in his plunderings tho hardly concealed sympathy of the English Crown—ho that as it may —Cook excelled iu this, that wherever he went ho sought to aid the strange peoples ho found. In his death at their hands he was as truly a martyr as Bishop Patterson. Gisborno will honor itself in doing honor to Cook." —I am, etc., C. A. DeLautour.

A LADY’S SUGGESTION. Tho Secretary of tho Cook Memorial Committee has received the following letter from Mrs G. W. Sampson : To tho lion. See. Cook Memorial Fund,

Dear Sir, —In reply to your letter of July 23rd, I submit in writing my views as to the earning out of this work. First of all, us to site : I would favor the memento being placed upon the lvaiti Ilill, at a sufficiently high elevation to bo seen from tho Bay and entrance to tho river. Hero it will have tho greatest educational vitluo to tho travelling public, and mark the spot, hi raising tho fund, seeing it is a colonial one, why not extend tho aphoro of operation, and include the purchaso of a part of Kaiti Ilill, also tho spot known as Cook's Cove, at Tolago Bay. Tlioro may not ho funds now to go far in tlieso directions, but, with vigilance and watching, the Government might he led to soo its way to do something for tho colony’s historical spots. This, however, by tho way. Now, as to my proposal : Thoro should first bo drawn up a brief account of Cook’s landing, tho sighting of Young Nick's Head by little Nick, and tho wintering in Cook's Oovo. Tho ltov. H. Williams would perhaps kindly undertake this. Then could bo prepared two circulars ; otic to ho sent to all newspapers in the colony, to all mayors of towns, and all chairmen of county councils and school committees, asking their assistance ill furthering tho proposal, end rospectfully urging residents of the colony to contribute. Tho intoiition of this circular would bo to advortiso tho fund and obtain goodwill for it. Tho second circular, accompanied by subscription list, and the above suggested historical sketch, to bo used as an object lesson, would ho sent to all head masters of schools, asking them to assist and give all pupils ail opportunity of contributing to the fund, subscriptions to he received as low as ono ponny. Children’s contributions might ho forwarded in the form of stamps affixed to tiio subscription lists. Tho lists could bo made returnable within three mouths. In regard to this proposal, there aro two leading requirements, tho issuing of tho circulars and tho collecting of tho small subscriptions. Seeing tho fund is for a national object, Mr Townley as Mayor might approach tho Hon. tho Postmaster-General with n view of Ilia granting freo postage. He might also seo his wuy to grunt tho remitting of tho money through tho post free. I suggest tho application beiug mado through tho Mayor, as it seems to mo nccossary in asking such privileges an assuranco should bo convoyed that tho people generally aro taking a live interest in tho fund, and have tho representative body interested in it. Hoping theso few suggestions may be of use.—l am, otc., Fanny Sampson.

In regard to the above, we aro informod by tho Sccrotary of tho Cook Memorial Fund, that His Worship tho Mayor is a member of tho Committoo appointed by tho public meeting. Tho Committoo consists of tho following gentlemen :—His Worship tho Mayor (Mr J. Towuley), Hon. James Carroll, Rev. H. Williams, Father Mulvihill, Rev. J. G. Patorson, Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., Messrs T. Adair, W. J. P. Gaudin, F. Harris, A. F. Kennody, W. Webb, It. N. Jones, J. Rosie, J. G. Cox, and G. Rowley (Headmaster of the Gisborne School); Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., and Rev. H. Williams, Hon. Troas.