LEARNING FROM HISTORY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 11 August 1932, Page 7

LEARNING FROM HISTORY.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH. EXAMPLE OF CAPTAIN COOK. While paying a tribute to Cap-, | tain Cook at the unveiling of the statue in Victoria square yesterday ; his Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe) spoke of the need to develop a sense of nationhood in New Zealand if patriotism was to find its fullest expression in the Dominion. To do this a knowledge of the country's hifttory was essential. At the same time his Excellency pointed" out that Captain Cook's life, especially in relation to the way he mado the most of the mental and moral qualities he had in him, might be used as a model at tho present day. "It has afforded me particular satisfaction to comply with your Mayors request that during my short sojourn in Chrtstchu'reh I should formally unveil this fine marble statue of Captain James Cook, the munificent gift to this City of its patriotic and generous citizen, Mr M. F. Barnett, and the skilful work of your accomplished local sculptor, Mr W. T. Trc'thewey," said his Excellency. "If patriotism is to find its fullest expression in this Dominion, if pride in its not unworthy past is to stimulate, inspire, and materially advance its potential greatness in the future, a sense of nationhood must be developed among all classes of the community, and in all those different geographical areas whose settlement and civilisation in days gone by were sectional and isolated in their character, and consequently conducive to the same insular detachment which, characterises New Zealand's location on the map of the world. Importance of History. "If this sense of ■ nationhood among New fealanders—a vital condition of the efrtietiveness of Empire partnership —is i>, be promoted, a knowledge of their country's history should form a fundamental part of the intellectual equipment of all classes, and be not merely inculcated in the days of early youth, but also cherished proudly and patriotically throughout life. "In the early history of New Zealand there are three outstanding landmarks

—its effective discovery by James Cook, then a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, in 1769, its Christianisation, commencing with the arrival of Samuel Marsden in 1814, and its inclusion in the British Empire under the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. But for the first tho second would have been improbable and the third impossible. "Indeed, if popular rumour be correct, Cook's far-sighted enterprise might have been defeated' in the very year of the treaty, at least so far as the South Island is concerned, by a little venture winch had Akaroa as its objective.- In that event, you might all to-day be talking French and a French GovernorGeneral might be unveiling a statue, not of Captain Cook, but of Captain Langlois or Commodore Lavaud. ''The notable events which I'have mentioned are all landmarks of which New Zealanders have.every reason to be proud, and which have conduced to'the greatness, the civilisation, and the ordered progress of this country. AH are associated with names, European and Maori, which will be honoured through the centuries, and none of them with more world-wide veneration or more general assent than that of the intrepid explorer of whom this fine statue will ever remain a noble memorial and illuminating (as well as illuminated) reminder. From Humble Beginnings. "James Cook was born at Marton, in Yorkshire, in 3728, and was tho son of an agricultural labourer who subsequently became a farm bailiff. He himself commenced life as a haberdasher's apprentice in the beautiful seaport of Whitby, but, owing to exceptional natural talents, great industry, and abounding enterprise, became famous in the varied role of a mathematician, astronomer, naval commander, .physician, surveyor, and the first and foremost among all British maritime discoverers. "During his 51 years of crowded adventure, penetrating travel, nnd discovery he did more than any other man of his century to enrich the world wi£h topographical knowledge and Great Britain with world-wide territory. He was a man of commanding personal presence (as this statue will no doubt indicate), possessed of sagacity, decisive judgment, amazing perseverance, and lovable disposition. While a firm disciplinarian, he displayed toward his shipmates and subordinates a degree of kindly sympathy and regard for their health, comfort, and happiness unsurpassed in tho annals of the sea.'' His Excellency then gave details of Captain' Cook's three voyages to Australia and New Zealand, dealing with his astronomical, surveying, and exploration activities. "During his three great expeditions he proved himself to be a most able and intrepid sailor, a self-trained scientist of no mean repute, an ardent and pertinacious discoverer, and a marine surveyor whose conscientious work has evoked the praise and gratitude of thousands of mariners who havo since sailed the high seas. He shattered alike the fables of the Great Antarctic Con. tinent and of the North-West Passage, and he gave to his country a title to her extensive and valuable territories in the Southern Hemisphere. A JLesson to Leant,' - "Tuc ships in which he achieved his success were Endeavour, Resolution, and Discovery. The names exemplify the outstanding characteristics of 4he man. Let us seek a timely lesson from this fact. The elixir of happiness, if not of perpetual life, is being sought strenuously and by new and hitherto uncharted routes in the modern days. It may be that the old routes are the best, and that, in atempting new ones, no terra lirma or sccutc landing place will be found. We may find ourselves

blocked with tho impenetrable ice of disappointment and failure. "Discovery of an'environment of assured and lasting happiness can only be attained by EndeavouT coupled with Kesolution. It is these qualities, fortified by faith in God, which have ever gone to the building up of the character and achievement of the British race, and it is only by their perpetuation that the sturdy sons and daughters of this fair new Britain across the seas will perfect their own development and raise their country to the limits of her immense potentialities. Essential Qualitifts* "A modern education, however complete, provides no substitute for the ror bust mental and moral equipment which raised James, |Cook to eminence; still less does an assured" social' status'or the possession of wealth. Indeed, they have aften proved, by numbing ambition, to stultify;, genius. ; . . "James Cook was of humble origin, but possessed a great soul and inflexible determination which enabled him to grasp life's opportunities, elicit the confidence and admiration of his fellowcountrymen of all classes, aid earn for himself undying fame amoug the great ones of the earth. As I now nnveil this statue. I earnestly exhort the inhabitants of this City and province to keep his memory ever green."