CAPTAIN COOK'S JOURNAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 28 February 1923, Page 9

CAPTAIN COOK'S JOURNAL.

AUSTRALIA WANTS IT. BIG PRICE ASKED. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 23. Australia is endeavouring to purchase the original record of the discovery of Australia written by Captain Cook, now on offer for sale in London by auction. But there has been such muddling in the negotiations that if the document does eventually get here it will only be after a considerable sum more than it could have been purchased for with decent business methods has been paid down. The journal is owned by Mr. H. W. F. Bolckow, a grand-uephew of a Ger. man who settled in Marton, Yorkshire, where Cook was born. How the journal became the property of the Bolckow family is obscure, b - possibly it was purchased from Caj., >n Cook's widow, who survived tlie great sailor by same sixty years. For years it was not heard of. About 1895 somebody stumbled across it. Twelve months ago an Australian journalist re-discovered it and brought it under the notice of Sir Timothy Coghlan. Acting AgentGeneral. It is said that the journalist could probably have bought it then for £2000. Then the unbusinesslike clamour Of Sir Timothy Coghlan aroused the owner and others, and more offers came in. The owner decided on a public auction.

Now the price has jumped by several thousands at least. An American has already offered £5000 for its possession. .It is suggested in Sydney that the Governments, both Federal *and State, aided by private citizens throughout Australia, should unite to purchase the .eeord in order that it may ultimately he housed In the National" Museum or Library at Canberra. Mr. Scott Fell, M.L.A,. has offered, to subscribe a sum of _200 towards the purchase. The sale has been definitely fixed to take place on March 21.