CAPTAIN COOK

Evening Star, Issue 21508, 5 September 1933, Page 11

CAPTAIN COOK

DESCENDANT IN NEW ZEALAND A DOUBT RAISED “The claim is interesting, but neither new nor conclusive,” said Mr J. E. Kirk, M.8.E., when tho ‘ Evening Star ’ paragraph that a descendant of Captain Cook was in New Plymouth was referred to him. Within the last few years this was the third similar claim that had been referred to him, the first being in England, when he was there in 1924, and the second in Christchurch in 1931, and now there was this one. “ If,” continued Mr Kirk, “ this claim can be substantiated, it will give great satisfaction to all interested in the life of the great circumnavigator, for much research has been undertaken throughout a long period of years, the general consensus of opinion to date being that Cook has no direct descendant.” Mr Kirk devoted much time, spread over a period of fifteen years, to research in the life of Cook, visiting his birthplace at Marton-in-Cleveland, and all tho other places in England, and many throughout tho world, connected with the history of the famous preparatory to" issuing a new ‘ Life of Cook, blit his manuscript, nptes, and records—the labour of years, including valuable personal notes from tho late Hon. Robert M'Nab—perished in a disastrous fire which destroyed his residence. “The name Glcncairn, suggested from Australia, as that of another descendant living in New Zealand, greatly intrigues me t for I have not heard it in this connection before. It was, however, the name of my home in Gisborne, and as I wrote from there many letters to Australia and elsewhere concerning Cook, I should not be surprised if in that lies tho only connection. It would indeed be remarkable if it happened that I. so interested in the life of this national hero, should have unwittingly adopted for my home the name of an alleged direct descendant of Cook; I cannot think this likely.”