IN MEMORY OF COOK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8352, 12 February 1913, Page 10

IN MEMORY OF COOK.

OBELISK AT SHIP COVE UXVEILED BY THE GOVERNOR. AX HISTORIC OCCASION. A ship is waiting in the harbour now; , A wind is hovering on the mountain’s brow; There is a path on the sea s azure floor; No keel has ever ploughed that path before. A halo surrounds the name and the fame of Captain James Cook, intrepid navigator and dauntless explorer. While Chatham was thundering against the stupidity and incapacity that led to the severance of the Atlantic colonies, and Burke vainly perorated about the “dexterous and arm sagacity of American enterprise,’’ Cook was ploughing a lonely furrow in faroff southern seas. His mission was to observe the transit of Venus; incidentally, he explored an unknown continent, and virtually discovered these islands. Realising the vastness of ocean distances, present day voyagers marvel at such daring, enterprise and scorn of hidden dangers, as was shown by the stalwart men of the Endeavour, \ho Adventure, and the Resolution, Those were days of that terrible scourge of sailors, the scurvy, and the brave little barques were but toys compared with our modern leviathans-WHITE-WINGED SEA-BIRD. It was on October 6th, 1769, that Cook first, sighted the New Zealand coast, near Gisborne. The natives took his ship for a great white-winged seabhd, and thought the discharge of guns was divine thunder. Cook rounded the North Capo; ran down the west coast, and entered Queen Charlotte Sound on January 15th, 1770. The Endeavour was towed up past Motuara Island, and dropped anchor in the lovely Ship Cove. Here Cook found about 300 Maoris, and the morning songs of birds in the luxuriant bush moved the ship’s company to delight. On Motuara Island, Cook proclaimed British sovereignty for tne first time, and yesterday, after a lapse of 143 years; citizens gathered in the historic Cove to honour his memory. The occasion was the unveiling of an obelisk which has been erected by a zealous committee eager to perpetuate Cook’s name, A BEAUTIFUL SPOT. About five hundred people embarked on the Mararoa from Wellington, and though a hard nor’-wester was blowing, the passage over the strait was smooth and enjoyable. Only a little swell was felt in the “rip”- off Terawhiti. The vessel arrived at Ship Cove at 11.30 a.m., and here were the Tutanekai (with their Excellencies the Earl and Countess of Liverpool on board), the training ship Amokura, and many smaller craft, all gay with bunting. The Duchess had brought a crowd from Picton. As the Mararoa dropped anchor in calm deep water, everyone remarked on the surpassing beauty of the spot. Situated just within the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, Ship Cove is formed by a splendid girdle of hills and affords safe shelter in the roughest weather. Magnificent i verdure, with giant ferns in profusion, rises almost from the water’s edge, jind clothes the lofty hills to their summits. There is a narrow shingly beach, near which the obelisk, had been erected, ,and passengers slowly disembarked in launches. Just over the water was the famous Motuara Island, facing, Cook Strait. The whole bush has wisely been made a scenic reserve, and the general aspect is one of rare loveliness. ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNOR. A few minutes before 1 p.m., Lord and Lady Liverpool disembarked from the Tutanekai, to the accompaniment of a salute, and were rowed ashore by Amokura lads, another detachment forming a guard of honour. Their Excellencies proceeded to the obelisk in company with the Hons. H. D. Bell, K.C., and F. M. B. Fisher, and others present at the ceremony were the Mayor of Wellington (Mr D. McLaren), the Hon. C. H. Mills, Air Robert McNab, Mr B. McCallum, M.P., and Commander Hooper (training ship Amokura). A large crowd had assembled round the memorial, and the Blenheim Hibernian Band was in attendance. Mr John Duncan, chairman of the Memorial Committee, expressed gratification to see such a large assembly, bearing living witness to the interest of the people in the life and work of the great navigator—perhaps the greatest the world had seen. Ho was certainly an Empire builder, and they had every reason to be thankful for his mission in having secured to the British Crown what they considered one of the finest countries in the world. (Applause.) The fine scenic reserve was created firstly to the Provincial Government of Marlborough, and then by the General Government. It measured over 2000 acres.' That was capital testimony to the feeling the Government had with regard to Captain Cook. The committee thought that something more should be done to have a practical memorial of Captain Cook, and considered that Motuara Island would be an historic site for the purpose. Want of funds, however, had _ been a serious drawback to the activities of the committee. TOWER ON MOTUARA. It was suggested by .their architect there should be a tower on the highest point of Motuara, so that it should be visible to shipping in the locality. Limitation of funds had prevented its erection, and the committee invited the sympathy of New Zealand, and active assistance of all, towards erecting a tower worthy of Captain Cook. One farthing per head of the population would give them what was wanted—a tower 70 feet high, visible to all passing through the strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. The committee, wishing to secure a gun from Cook’s ship, was informed by the Admiralty that no gun in Cook’s service was available, but a gun was sent out which had seen service in the period. This was now on the spot. A suggestion was made by Mr McNab that they should have a tablet stating the feelings of the natives when they first saw Captain Cook and his ship, and a native welcome was adopted. The committee was much indebted to Mr McNab, who by his counsel, assistance and private expenditure had greatly helped the movement. (Hear, hear.) But his lectures produed only £143, and their private contributions had not been commensurate with the importance of the work. The Government had promised a £ for £ subsidy up to £4OO, but they were iu want of money to erect the tower. It simply remained for them and their friends to carry on the work that had been commenced. (Applause.).

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. Lord Liverpool, who was cordially received, said: “We have come here to-day to do honour to a man whose guiding star through life was marked by unswerving zeal and undaunted perseverance. There have been many men in all ages, from all nations, who have cheerfully and devotedly given their best years in the service of exploration and science for the benefit of their fellowmen; but what specially appeals to us to-day is the fact that Janies Cook belonged to the race of which we are all so justly proud. “James Cook was apprenticed to an uncongenial trade, and attracted by the glamour of a sea life. His first captain happened to be like himself, a Yorkshireman, and took great notice of him; with the result that in four years ho secured his warrant as master.” His Excellency sketched the work done by Cook in the St. Lawrence, and mentioned the accuracy of Cook’s charts; his knowledge of astronomical navigation; also the accuracy of his compilation of sailing directions. In 1768, at the instance of the Royal Society, an expedition was fitted out to the Pacific to observe the transit of Venus. Cook was given command. The supposition of a gigantic continent, after Tasman’s discovery in 1642, had never been proved or disproved. Lord Liverpool gave an interesting historical account of Cook’s voyages round the New Zealand coast. Cook was the first Englishman to declare British sovereignty over the South Island, on January 31st, 1770. After the return voyage to England, the ship had lost nearly 30 men by death, principally due to scurvy, out of a complement of 85. For the success of the voyage, Cook was promoted commander of a new expedition, which sailed from Plymouth in 1772 with the Resolution and Adventure. These vessels replenished stores at Dusky Bay, and Cook had learned the lesson that something had to be done to keep scurvy away. Ships in those days were at sea much longer than now; The lesson learned by Cook in respect to the health of his crew bore good fruit during the naval struggles with France. 136 YEARS AGO. Cook landed again in New Zealand in 1774, and after looking for the southern continent, returned to Plymouth in July, 1775. He was promoted captain, and as commander of another expedition, landed at Ship’s Cove on February 12th, 1777, which, by a curious coincidence, was just 130 years ago the next day. He left Ship Cove on February 25th for South America and Sandwich Islands, where he was murdered on February 13th, 1779. It was fitting and right that Cook’s name should not be forgotten. “The Old Country has produced many men of his stamp, who faced difficulties and overcame them, although very often at the expense of their lives. He, like Wolffe and Sir John Aloore, ordered his life and effected much without trying to stand in the limelight. At the time, no fitting recognition was made of the labours of these great men, but to-day, although many years have passed, we are endeavouring to give a full though tardy expression of appreciation to the memory of one of them, who was not only an intrepid navigator and_ explorer but a, great and gallant Britisher.” (Loud applause.) His Excellency then unveiled the obelisk, and there was a flourish of trumpets. A salute of several guns by the Amokura reverberated among the hills, and the crowd sent forth ringing cheers. “BRAVE AND ADVENTUROUS SPIRITS." The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that, profiting by the adventures and hardships of early pioneers, they ought on that occasion to try to live in imagination a hundred and thirty years ago,and think what it meant for bravo and adventurous spirits like Captain Cook to come out from the Old Land to these seas. There was then no telegraphy, no wireless, no sense of security, nothing but hardship and privation from one end of the journey to the other. He (Air Fisher) was greatly indebted to the Historical Committee for the perpetuation of our national history. He hoped this movement would awaken the public conscience in the building up of national traditions and associations. Let them also build a monument on the other side and complete the scheme. (Ap--plause.) . Mr R. McCallum, M.P. for Wairau, after remarking on the great patriotism of Marlborough, paid a tribute to the work of Mr'MoNab in the conservation of historic records of Captain Cook. ADDRESS BY MR McNAB. Mr Robert MoNab, who was received with applause and cheers, gave an interesting historical sketch of Cook’s visit, and the topography of the Sound. Cook, ho said, laid the foundation of a new Empire away out in the Southern Pacific, just at the time that England appeared to the world to be in danger of losing her great possessions on the other side of the Atlantic, and as a result of Cook’s foundation work each of the Australasian colonies was settled. During the three great voyages of discovery, Captain Cook visited New Zealand on five different occasions, and there was no one single place in New Zealand, except this little cove, which could claim the honour of having sheltered his vessels on every one of those five occasions. Whether on board the Endeavour, Resolution, or Discovery, Captain Cook spent 101 days in the cove, which meant so much to him and to his men. Here the information about scurvy was gathered—a fact which earned for Cook high honour among medical men, and did so much to mitigate the scourge. Bay of Islands, owing to their fierce natives, never possessed for Cook the same advantages as Ship Cove. At the latter place he found a large number of natives, hut they travelled about, and did not give him so much trouble. One point caused the greatest significance. When Cook returned after his first voyage in the Endeavour, he handed to the Admiralty information as to the means of overcoming the dangers of Antarctic exploration, and he advised them to recruit the health of the men in Ship Cove. Mr MoNab detailed the historic significance of the various bays and headlands in the locality. A CONSPICUOUS POSITION. The other portion of the scheme was to erect a monument on Motuara Island. It would be seen by Sydney and Home steamers on a magnificent background. From vessels steaming ' out through Tory Channel people would see the monument on the top of the hill for about three minutes. It was on the site suggested for the memorial that Cook proclaimed sovereignty over the South Island, though it was not till June 10th, 1840, that the South Island becam® British territory. He hoped that they would all come to the assistance of the committee, and build a

monument worthy of the occasion, which should be seen by immigrants coming to these shores ana. % by others who were leaving after having made their fortunes. (Applause.) At the call of the -Hon. F. M B. Fisher cheers were given for Lord Liverpool, Lady Liverpool, and Captain Cook. The Governor briefly returned thanks, and declared that it had been a great pleasure to come there that day. THE OBELISE. The obelisk is a massive erection in rough concrete, tapering from a broad base and surntounted by an anchor. The tablet on the north side bears the inscription: “Cook’s visits on board the Endeavour: 15 Jan. to 8 Feb. 1770. On Board the Eesolution: 18 Slay to 7 June 1773; 3 Nov. to 25 Nov. 1773; 18 Oct. to 10 Nov. 1774; 12 Feb. to 25 Feb. 1777.” On the opposite face is an inscription in Maori, expressing a poetical welcome. The Mararoa left the oove at 3.15 p.m., and had a pleasant homeward passage,' reaching Wellington at 6.30 p.m.