COOK STATUE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1932, Page 6

COOK STATUE

UNVEILED AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Per Press. Association — Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 11. ■ /With impressive ceremonial the statue, of Captain James Cook,, presented to the city of Christchurch by Mr M. F. Burnett, was unveiled by his: Excellency the 'Governor-Gen-eral yesterday moming. A cold wind did not*-, deter a crowd of mo lie than three thousand from assembling early. Buildings near the site were decorated 'with flags and the verandahs and windows' were thronged with people. Those below in the street watched tihe ceremony from the four sides bf a hollow square with school children in the fore. 1 Following the unveiling the Gov-ernor-General in the course of an address said;— 1 'Let us sbelr a timely lessor from this fact. The elixir■ of happiness, if not a perpetual life, is being ’sought strenuously and by new and hitherto uncharted routes in .these modern days.. It may be that the old routes are the best and' that' in attempting new ones, no terra firma or •s’eeure landing place will he found. We may find ourselves blocked with the impenetrable ice of disappointment and failure. Discovery of an environment of assured and. lasting happiesi can only be attained by encoupled with resolution. It 'is these 'qualities, forfeited by faith, . ip God,: which have ever gone to the building up of tltfe character and achievement of the BritisltArace, and yit is only 'by their 'perpetuation that the sturdy ;sons and daughters of this fair nbW Britain across the seas will pirfeet -"their own development and .. raise iheimi country to the limits of -her inimen>b potentialities.” > ' r- i.Lord i Bledisloe pointed out that a ; modern education, however complete, |-provided,, no: substitute for the robust ; ifiental 'and moral equipment which raised James Oook to eminence; still less did an., assured social status or the possession of wealth, Indeed, they had pften proved by numbing ambition', to stultify .genius. He exhorted the inhabitants' of the city and province . to keep the memory of Captain Oook ever green, ‘ -.- • Mir M.’ F. .Barnett thanked the citizens for their very fin© reception of his gift, and he thanked all who had 'had anything to do with the making and placing of the. statue. Be praised the work of Mr ©'ethewey, which hedescribed as a.; labour of love. ; |