HISTORIC EVENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 491, 1 August 1902, Page 3

HISTORIC EVENT.

LANDING OF CAPTAIN COOK IN NEW ZEALAND, GISBORNE AND TOLAGO BAY, (Written by Ilis Lordship Bishop .Williams.) No. 111.

On Sunday, the 22nd, another start was made, but, the wind being unfavorable for standing to tho northward, Cook determined to put into Tolago Bay (PI. XXXIIL), some natives having told him of a small cove, a little within the south point of the bay, where fresh water was handy, and where the boats might land without being exposed to a heavy surf. This is the cove which in recent times has always borne the illustrious navigator’s name. The natives hero were as friendly as those at Anaura, and a good supply of wood and water was easily procured. During the eight days’ stay at this place Mr Banks and Dr. Solander explored the neighbourhood, and wore rewarded by the discovery of many more plants new to science. In tho course of their rambles they came upon what is described as a very extraordinary natural curiosity. “It was a rock, perforated through its whole substance so as to form a rude hut stupendous arch or cavern, opening directly to the sea. This aperture was seventy-five feet long, twenty-seven broad, and five-and-forty high, commanding a view of the hay and of the hills on the other side, which were seen through it, and, opening at once upon the view, produced an effect far superior to any of the contrivances of art.”

There are three small streams of water here, one of which finds its way to the sea through tiie natural arch above described. The arch (called by the natives “ Tc Kotore o te Whenua") pierces the ridge tho extremity of which forms the western head of the cove, and is about 400yds from high-water mark within the cove. The measurements given by Cook do not quite correspond with the present dimensions. The present length is 55ft, the breadth at the narrowest part 24ft bin, and the height at the lowest part 23ft. The length has probably been reduced by the falling-away of the cliff at the other end. at which part also the measurements of the height and breadth given by Cook may have been estimated.

About 80yds from high-water mark, among some bushes about 20ft up the side of the same hill as that in which the arch occurs, is what is known as “ Cook’s well.” This is a small Hole, about lOin. in diameter and about Ift deep, excavated in the soft rock where a tiny rill trickles down from a small spring a little higher up tlio hill. This could not have been used in any way for watering tho ship, but was probably hollowed out for amusement by some of the boys in the ship’s company. That it is not a natural cavity, but, that it was made on the occasion of Cook’s visit, soems to be satisfactorily shown by the name which the natives have given to it —viz., “ Te Wai Kcri a Tepaea,” or Tcpaca's Well; Tepaea (in which form they have preserved the name of the Tahitian Tupaoa) having been thought by them to have been the name of Captain Cook. Various letters have been cut near the little well, but most of them have become very indistinct from the scaling-off of the surface of the rock. It is impossible to assign any date to these, which may all of them be much more modern than 1769. Maori tradition states that Hinema-

tioro, who was then a young girl, was pointed out to Cook as a young lady of high rank, and that he presented her with beads and other ornaments. Hinematioro was much looked up to in her time by all the tribes along this part of the coast, and her name was known formerly as far north as the Bay of Islands as that of a great rangatira. She lost her life about sixty or seventy years ago when making her escape from Te Pourcwa, or Sporing’s Island, the pa on which was attacked by Ngatiporou. The canoe was making for Whangara, and was upset at sea, the only survivor being her grandson, the late Tc Kani-a-Takirau.

Cook says that the bay is called by the natives “Tolago ” ; but this has not been identified with any Maori name now in use in the neighbourhood. The bay takes its name from the Bivcr Uawa, which flows into it; and the name of Cook’s cove is Opoutama. The rocks off the entrance to tho cove have altorcd very little since Cook’s time, for the description which he gives of them might have been written yesterday. “ Close to the north end of the island [Sporing’s Island], at the entrance into the bay, are two high rocks: one is round, like a corn-stack ; but the other is long and perforated in several places, so that the openings appear like the arches of a bridge. Within these rocks is the cove where we cut wood and filled our water-casks.”

On Monday, the 30th October, Cook made sail again to tho northward, and here we take our leave of him.