BIRTH OF NELSON

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 260, 3 November 1941, Page 8

BIRTH OF NELSON

WAKEFIELD'S ARRIVAL

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION (0.C.) NELSON, Sunday. A centennial celebration to com; memorate the first landing of Captain Arthur Wakefield and the arrival of the first vessel to enter Nelson harbour was held on Wakefield Quay yesterday. A stone marking the spot where Captain Wakefield came ashore was dedicated by the Bishop of Nelson. Later in the afternoon there was a function at the old flagstaff site on Britannia heights, where Captain Wakefield first unfurled the flag and declared the loyalty of Nelson pioneers to the Crown. The same flag which was brought to Nelson by Captain Wakefield in 1841 was used at the ceremony, the flag being broken from a sapling flagstaff by Mrs. Maud Kelly, of Christchurch, a relative of the late Captain Cross, the first pilot at Nelson and one of three men who discovered Nelson Haven.

The Mayor, Mr. E. R. Neale, briefly told the story of the expedition, the arrival of the three ships, Whitby, Will Watch and Brig Arrow, in Blind Bay, and the search for a suitable site, which resulted in the discovery of Nelson Haven behind a boulder bank.

Mr. J. A. Harley, president of the Early Settlers' Memorial Association, explained that the large scale celebrations originally planned had been considerably reduced on account of the war, but each important event in the establishment of the settlement would be adequately commemorated.

• Prior to the dedication yesterday, the stone was unveiled by Mr. John Biack, a resident of Nelson for 92

vears. who was an original pupil of i\e!son College.