With Malaspina In Fiordland

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 5

With Malaspina In Fiordland

(Specially written for "Th* Preu" by

ROBYN JENKIN]

COUNTRY'S history is written in its place names. But how often those place names disappear. H'hat is important to one generation is lost on the next, so one name gives way to another, and by the time the maps have been altered a few time, the original

story has bee* forgotten.

With the recent decision of the Geographic Board to confirm the names of some of the features around Doubtful Sound, and to name others, the hope of Robert McNab, the New Zealand historian have, to a certain extent, been realised. In 1907 he wrote that he hoped “the powers that be will pay the graceful compliment to the Spanish expedition of revising all the old names, so that not only may we have a record of the Spanish expeditionary visit, but have that record perpetuated in the names of isle, headland and sound.” Landfall It was on February 28, 1793, that the Spanish ships Descuvierta and Altrevida first sighted Dusky Sound and then sailed on to Doubtful Sound. The expedition was part of a world tour undertaken by the Spaniards “to trace maps of Spanish possessions" and was under the command of Don Allessandro Malaspina with three other commanders, Bustamente, Galleano and St. Cevallos. In their ships, specially built for a scientific expedition, they left Cadiz on July 30, 1789, and they were away 5 years one month and 21 days. In that time they followed the coasts of America from the River Plate to Cape Horn, rounded the Cape and sailed on to the extremity of North America. They explored the Mariannas, the Philippines, Macao, New Guinea, New Hebrides, Port Jackson in Australia, and Dusky and Doubtful sounds, before crossing to Peru. According to Sir Joseph Banks, the Spaniards studied the botany, mineralogy hydrographics, the civil and

political states of all these areas and observed their emigration plans. "Their discoveries have not cost a single tear to the human race and they have only lost three or four men of the crew on each vessel,” commented Sir Joseph Banks. That was quite an achievement for five years’ sailing under the conditions of 200 years ago. Don Allessandro Malaspina, was usually considered a Spaniard, but In fact he was an Italian. Born at Mulazzo (Carrara) on November 5, 1754, he was one of 13 children of Marquis Malaspina. In his early twenties he went to Cadiz and was commissioned in the Spanish Navy. His accounts of his voyages were published, but his charts were never found. These must have existed at some time as an 1841 a map of New Zealand shows Spanish names In Doubtful Sound. His later history is obscure, but from his travels he fell foul of those in authority and was imprisoned in Corunna. Until he was released by Napoleon in 1802. He died near Pisa in 1809. Exploration When Malaspina’s ships reached Doubtful Sound an armed boat under Don Felipe Bausa put off to explore as much as possible of the sound and to get food and water. This trip gave Doubtful Sound areas their Spanish names. Unfortunately, as so often happens, many of these names have been lost. For instance Busa found what they supposed was a bay offering good anchorage, and named it Pendulo Bay. But the “bay” was the entrance to Thompson Sound and the name was later dropped. In honour of Don Jose Espinosa, who was responsible for many of the expedition’s astronomical observations, they named Espinosa Point, but this was later changed to Wood Head on the maps. Similarly, one of the points of Pendulo Bay named Quintano Point, after Fernando Quintano, third lieutenant of the Discuvierta, was lost. Remembered However to offset the losses, Malaspina will still be honoured by Malaspina reach; Febrero Point will still tell that the Spaniards visited in February and Bausa Island will recall the commander of the Descuvierta's gun boat. Luis Nee, the botanist of the Altrevida, may have given his name to Nea Island but that Is not known for certain. Now, together with these Spanish names will be others. Wanganella Cove, Brasell Point, Utah Island and Archer Point—all new names connected with the Manapouri power scheme. And if, by any chance, the ghost of Malaspina pays an occasional visit to the scenes of activity in Wanganella Cove, he may have cause to retract his earlier observation; “In brief, unless chance or dire necessity brings mariners to this port, we must suppose that it is destined to remain perpetually deserted and that Dusky Sound will ever remain the port of welcome in the neighbourhood.”