COOK MEMORIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 526, 24 September 1902, Page 3

COOK MEMORIAL.

WANG AN U 1 CHI i ONICLI

The movement, originated by the Gisborne Timas for the erection of a memorial to Captain Cook is certainly one worthy of (lie favorable consideration of New Zealand colonists generally. It is a curious fact that some such permanent tribute to the great navigator has not. yet teen provided. Poverty Bay is the natural restingplace for such a memorial, that being l tie first point visited by Captain Cook It was on Friday, the 6th of October, 176!l, that Captain Cook ii:xt sighted New Zealand, and on the Sunday following that he anchored just oil the entrance to the river on which Osliornc now stands. His attempts to enter into friendly relations wiiti the natives, and the hostile reception he met, are too well known to need telling. lie remained only a cotipie of days at this point. “'."he next morning," he wrote in his journal, “Wednesday, Iltli, at 6 o’clock, we weighed and stood away from this unfortunate and inhospitable place, to which 1 gave the name of Poverty Bay and which by the Natives is called Te Onerofi. or Long Land, as it did not afford us a single article that we wanted, except a little wood.” Today. Poverty Bay, a fertile and prosperous district, has proved itself well u.rtliy of a better name, and the people are ready to do honor to the memory of the gallant captain. As t tie Gisborne Times says : 11 Surely, if in the rush and bustle of our busy lives

we pause for a moment to reflect on what we as people of New Zealand owe to the courage, daring, and patience of that great sailor, the thought must come home to us that it is a disgrace to the colony that no monument of any kind lias ever been erected here to mark the site of his first landing in New Zoaland, and as a mark of respect and admiration wo havo for the man to whom England owes one of the brightest jewels in her crown. Visitors to Gisborno are always struck by the absence of such a memorial. The matter is one of deep interest and importance to tho Empiro ns a whole, and, seeing that there is no memorial to Captain Cook anywhore in Now Zoaland, wo feel suro that tho leal taken by Gisborne will enlist tho fullest sympathy and support of tbn peoplo of the colony and the Homeland.” Tho movement is meeting with widosproad support from representative men in all parts of tho colony. His Excelloncy the Govornor says : “ It gives rue great pleasure to see that a movement is on band to erect a memorial to Capt. Cook to mark hi« first landing plnce in New Zealand, If wo wish to inspiro tho rising generation with admiration for tho great and heroic deeds of tho men of the past, we cannot afford to leave unnoticed the name of Captain Cook, of whom every Englishman may justly be proud.” His Lordship the Bishop of Waiapu writes : “The movement which lias been inaugurated for the purpose of orecting a suitable monument to mark the spot on which Captain Cook first landed in Now Zealand is one in which I heartily sympathise. Tho features of tho scene of Cook’s first contact with tho natives have been completely obliterated by tho works connected with tho breakwater, but tho landing place, which is very clearly indicated by Captain Cook’s journal, is as yet intact. This may not bo the case a few years hence. I trust that tho monument when orected will ho one worthy of the object.—l remain, faithfully yours, AV.L,, Waiapu.” Sir \V. R. Russell : “ Cook was in every essential a great Englishman and typical of his raco. A man who by force of character rose to a glorious position history ol Britain, and his fame wiill last as long as our rough island story is remembered. 110 lived before the epoeli of special correspondents and the daily press, or his fame would have been as wide as tho world ho explored.” Tho Hon. James Carroll expresses the opinion that “ tho movement should command univer sal support.” These testimonies Bpeak for themselves, but tho object itself is one which on its tuorits alono should com mend itself to every Now Zoalandor.