CAPTAIN COOK'S COAST NAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

CAPTAIN COOK'S COAST NAMES.

There are two of North Auckland coastal names curiously linked with the British Navy.

Capo Brett, with its lighthouse, and Piercy Island, with its ocean-carved "hole" in the wall," familiar sights to many Aueklanders in the summer cruising days, are perhaps usually thought ro have been named after two persons. SonAtimes, too, it has been surmised that Piercy Island was so named because of its arched configuration. But, though tho rocky islet's chart name happens to fit it so literally that it might seem to have been coined for it by C'ook, the fact remains that Piercy is simply Brett's first name.

Captain Cook, according to the record of the first voyage, gave the cape and the island their names on November 20, 1700, "in honour of Sir Piercy." The reference was to Admiral Sir Piercy Brett, one of the Lords Commissioners of tho Admiralty.

It is in that wonderful story of British naval exploits, Lord Anson's "Voyage Round the World," that some of the most thrilling deeds in the admiral's fighting career are recorded. Piercy Brett was second-lieutenant in the frigate Centurion on that famous cruiso and in the raids on Spanish ships and on seaports 011 the west coast of South America, he was the keenest of all in his chase of and treasure. One of his feats was the capture of the port of Pa it a, 011 the Spanish Main, with its rich treasure. Lien tenant Brett was entrusted by Anson with the comlnand of the landing expedition, of 58 picked men, and he carried out his daring task with complete success. 111 those downright old days the Navy frankly went out after loot and lots 01" it. Wo read that when the Centurion finally reached Portsmouth in 1744, after her four years' voyaging, fighting and plundering, it took 32 wagons to carry to London her accumulated treasure, worth about £500,000.