BOYS' OWN COLUMN

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOYS' OWN COLUMN

THE STORY OF CAPTAIN COOK,

HABERDASHER'S APPRENTICE WHO BECAME FAMOUS

Dear Boys,—• Whenever mention is made of early New Zealand history my thoughts always turn to Captain Cook, the man who did more than any other to put our land on the map. James Cook was born of humble parents and won his way to fame through sheer merit. He began life at 12, not as z. seafarer, but as an apprentice to a haberdasher. Afterwards, however, he joined a firm of ship owners and was engaged for years in tb.3 Norway, Baltic and New- - castle trades. Cook held the position of a mate when he joined the Royal Navy. After four years' service, on the recommendation of his commander Cook was made master of a vessel, and shortly afterwards, in the Salebay, lie sailed up the St. Lawrence, bei~i~ engaged in taking soundings and making a survey of the river. He published, too, a chart of the channel from Quebec to the sea. It seemed that Cook had by now proved himself, for he was given orders to sail in the Endeavour to observe the ti-ansit of Venus and make geographical research in the Pacific islands. After observing the transit of Venus, he set out in search of the continent supposed to exist in the South Pacific. He explored the Society islands and then struck New Zealand. With great cars ho circumnavigated and examined the coasts, c.:arl;tj£j them for the first time with fair accuracy. Undoubtedly Cook Mould heve explored inland had it not been for the hostility of the Maoris. After spending six months in New Zealand waters, Cook proceeded to the coasts of Australia, or "New Holland," as it was sometimes called. Upon returning to England, Cock was m*de a member of the Royal Sociely, from which he received the Copley gold medal for the best experimental paper which had appealed "during the year. Cook's voyages took him through the tropics and into the Antarctic region; he made many discoveries in the neme of Great Britain, and yet what pleased this man more than anything else was the fact that only one of his crew during his voyages died from :I!ness. It will be that Captein Cook greatly improved the living conditions ot .he cailcrs under h:s command, introducing fresh vegetables and lime.iuice ir.;o the ahips stores, and arranging for clean and healthy livinsr quarters for the crew. On his third voyage Captain Cook set out primarily to *«ttle the qu.st.on of the North-Wer.t passage, but it was during tW. vo™ that he was struck down and killed by the natives of Hawaii.. Overn gh obLin oV; F r° at ? h l ad J b^ en St ° len by the natives - * nd i" °rder to A scuffle ensued t vT m °"" ns With * P art * of ™»ne S . /v scuttie ensued and the Englishmen were forced to retreat. Cook was the I^s^ last to retire and was struck down by -^**"***' a blow from behind. The gallant cap- J , tain rose again, but was then surrounded *j"j {/AP^L,***'^ by natives and murdered—no fitting end KjA*,*^ for a man so great as he. —^"^