TASMAN MEMORIAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 December 1942, Page 2

TASMAN MEMORIAL

UNVEILING "CEREMONY.

GATHERING AT TARAKOHE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TAKAKA, December 18. “Remember Abel Janszoon Tasman, a commander in the service of the Dutch United East India Company, who discovered New Zealand, and on the 18th and 19th December, 1642, anchored in this bay. Remember also Franchoys Jacobs Zoon Visscher, pilot major, and the company of the ships Heemskerck and Zeehaen, also Jan Tysscn, of Oueven, Tobias Pietersz, of Delft, Jan Isbrintz, and a sailor of name unknown, killed by the Natives of this country.” That is the inscription on a large marble stone at the base of the high white concrete column which forms a monument at Tarakohe, Golden Bay, to mark the place on the coast closely approached by Tasman on his voyage of discovery three hundred years ago. The unveiling ceremony today was attended by the Netherlands delegation headed by Dr Charles van der Plas, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Minister of ' Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, and the Acting-Minister of Lands, Mr Barclay. Mrs C. F. Skinner, wife of Major Skinner, M.P. for Motueka, performed the ceremony. A party of Maoris, among whom were descendants of the Maoris who attacked Tasman’s cockboat, gave the official party a welcome with songs of navigation (whaki poi) and welcome. Mr Parry, who presided, paid a tribute to the Netherlands Government and referred to the mutual respect which had developed from the old-time rivalry between the Dutch and the British, till today both peoples were joined in a fight for common ideals.