LINK IN CHAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 497, 29 October 1928, Page 16

LINK IN CHAIN

Cook’s Bi-Centenary Celebrated CANNONS UNVEILED Press Association BLENHEIM, Sunday. In commemoration of the bi-edntenary of Captain Cook’s birth, an excursion was held yesterday, under the auspices of the Captain Cook Memorial Committee, to Ship Cove, a favourite haven of the famous navigator. About 50 people journeyed to the historic spot. Mr. W. J. Girling represented the Government, Mr. J. L. Jones the port of Picton, and Mr. R. P. Furness, president, the Cook Memorial Committee. The first part of the proceedings was the unveiling of two cannon of Captain Cook’s period, presented by the British Admiralty. These are placed in position at the base of the monument erected at the cove. The ceremony was performed by Mr. Girling, and speeches were delivered also by Mr. Jones and Mr. Furness. Mr. Furness made interesting references to the links in the chain starting from the discovery of New Zealand by Abel Tasman to the present day. Captain Cook, he said, forged the link between Abel Tasman and the Tasman flyers. About 200 years after Captain Cook’s birth, almost to the month, the Tasman Sea was crossed by air. It was not generally known that the Southern Cross flew over Ship Cove and encircled the bays in the vicinity while picking up its bearing on arrival over New Zealand, and before appearing over Wellington. It was at Ship Cove, when he was unveiling the present monument, that Lord Liverpool received the wireless message giving the news of Captain Scott’s glorious achievement and death in the Antarctic. This message was picked up by the Tutanekai, which was lying at Ship Cove.