A SACRED PLACE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18487, 15 September 1925, Page 10

A SACRED PLACE.

WHERE COOK FELL. GRACIOUS ACT BY JAPAN^ \ (PBBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) AUCKLAND, September 14. Further progress with the plans to have the area in Kealakekua Bay, on the island of Hawaii, where Captain Cook was killed, set aside as a public reserve for all time, was leported by Sir Joseph Carruthers, who reached Auckland by the Niagara on hi 3 wayback to Sydney from a visit to the I Hawaiian group. "When on a visit to Hawaii last year, Sir Joseph found that access to the monument that marks the place where Cook fell was so diificult'owing to the rough nature of the country, and the lack of landing facilities, that few people visited the historic spot. He made representations to the American authorities, and was later supported by the British and Australian Governments. It was then ascertained that the land which surrounded the monument had never been alienated, and a movement was started to have the area made a public reserve. Sir Joseph Carruthers also proposed that a stone wharf should be erected, and that other improvements for the benefit of visitors should be carried out.

Sir Joseph Carruthers has just made another visit to Hawaii, and lie said lie was pleased to be nble to report that the land had no;? been practically set aside.: A decision of the Supreme Court would be .necessary, and after that the land would be dedicated for public purposes. japan's 'li'merosity. ; A gracious act c:l the part of Japan in connexion with this project was re-, ported by Sir Joseph. He said that at the Captain Cook celebrations in Aus--tralia last April, he mentioned that some of the land in Hawaii, which it .was proposed to set aside, was in possession of Japanese residents, and would have to be acquired. The Japanese Consul, who was present at the gathering, later informed him that he intended to take up the matter with his Government, and he was sure it would acquire the land from the Japanese holders and hand it over as a gift. When Sir. Joseph reached Honolulu on his recent visit, hfi was met by the Japanese Consul for the Islands, and informed that the Japanese Government was securing any of the land at present held by Japanese, and would hand it over to the United States Government. This decision had been greatly appreciated, «ad Sir Joseph said it was particularly pleasing that the Japanese bad this sentiment and desire to honour the great dead. Access for Visitors. Some further proposals made by Sir Joseph Carruthers are now likely to be carried out by th# American authorities. These include the building of a

• jetty protected by a stone breakwater, close to the Cook monument, and a path leading from the wharf to the site of King's house on the rise above. The nearest settlement is the pretty little village of Napoopoo, but i high cliffs and rough country prevent visitors from going overland. The proposed jetty will make it safe for parties to land from the seaward side, and the track will allow visitors to go round the scenes of events of the day on which Cook died at the ! hands of the natives. The foundations of King's house still stand, and visitors will be able to traverse the track along which Cook walked on the day that he met his death. A rest and refreshment house is also contemplated on the lines of that erected at Botany Bay, where Captain Cook planted the flag of possession on landing in Australia, and where a small museum of relics of the ' great navigator is kept. A lt is proposed to hold celebrations at the monument in Kealakekua Bay to mark the 150 th anniversary of the discovery of the islands by Captain Cook.