WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17701, 1 March 1923, Page 8

WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

SEEN BY CAPTAIN COOK. (SPBCIAI, TO "THE PUSS.") WELLINGTON, Fobruary 28. Speaking at a Rotary Club luncEeon, Mr Elsdon Best, an authority on Maori lore and early New Zealand history, made some interesting references to Wellington Harbour. This harbour had been first discovered by the Polynesian* navigators, 700 years ago. It was re-discovered by Captain Cook 55.0 years later. first voyage he fapparently' did not note the existenco of Wellington Harbour, though he alluded to the inward.trend ~of the coastline between Sinclair Head and Cape Turakirae. On bis second voyage, however, he certainly saw the harbour, and anchored for about two hours in the entrance channel, one mile from the reefs of rocks called Barrett's Eeef. He did not enter. A south wind sprang up, so he raised anchor and drew off the land;. He did not enter the inlet, as he termed the harbour at first, because both wind and tide were against him. Prom the position in which he anchored he could see the eastern shore of the harbour. This was on November 2nd, 1773. On tbe 25th of tlie same month he sailed past the entrance, when he wonld be enabled to see about half the harbour. Forster, who was with Cook on their second voyage, remarks that the harbour seemed to extend a considerable way tip between the mountains,, and it was thought that these waters might communicate with Cook Strait, so that Cape Terawhiti would thus be an island. The writer described' Welling- . ton as miserable - country. Three canoes visited the vessel while she was at anchor, and traded in fish and . fish-hooks for nails.