HOBSON’S LANDING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 272, 30 August 1935, Page 3

HOBSON’S LANDING

monument to mark the spot. GIFT by Mil ERNEST DAVIS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 29. A gesture of great historical interest to the Dominion as well as to Auckland has been made by Mr Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland, who will have erected at his own expense a monument marking the pi where Captain William Hobson, R.N., first Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, landed at Auckland. The monument, an obelisk in granite from Waterloo Bridge, London, now being demolished, will be erected at the eastern end of Orakei Bay. The Mayor reported his proposal to the City Council to-night. Hobson rejected the Bay of Islands as the capital and founded Auckland in September, 1840. His death occurred ' two years later, and he was buried in a humble grave in Grafton Gully. _ Through cabled inquiries in which the High Commissioner, Sir James Parr has been concerned, the Mayor has under offer a sufficient quantity of granite from Waterloo bridge. Hobson must have crossed the bridge frequently during bis lifetime, said the Mayor. 'The obelisk will be 20 feet ' high, and will bo placed on a spot indicated by two aged Maoris at Orakei settlement as the authentic landingplace. These Maoris, Pehiru Peoro and Watene Tautari, died two years ago The remnants of the Ngati-Whatua tribe which occupied Auckland at the time’of Hobson’s arrival; now live at Orakei.