FINDING OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 23817, 22 February 1941, Page 7

FINDING OTAGO

A NOTABLE ANNIVERSARY [Written by Maugahet Matixie, for the 1 Evening Slar.’J The last Saturday in February is a date wonh noting in Dunedin. For Saturday, February 25, 1771 T, marks the entry of Otago into Die pages ol recorded history. At 8 o’clock on the evening of that day, 171. years ago, the Endeavour stood to for the night off Cape Saunders, and European eyes gazed for the first time on the coastline of Otago. “ Saunders ” seems an unromantic name to give such a wild and rugged promontory. Captain Cook named it in honour of his friend, Sir Charles Saunders, who had been a former First Lord of the Admiralty. Cook had been present at the capture of Quebec, and Sir Charles had commanded the fleet in that action. Ab Cook approached the shores of Otago he was seeking the answer to a geographical problem which greatly interested the eighteenth century. Was the coastline he was following—the east coast of the South Island—the fringe of a great southern continent, the mythical Terra Australis, which was supposed to offset the land masses of the Northern Hemisphere? As he drew near Otago Cook was rapidly coming to the conclusion that this was no continent, but another island —like the North Island, which he had already sailed round. Banks, the naturalist, who was on board the Endeavour, describes himself as a “ hopeful continent-monger.” ‘‘ We, on board, were now of two parties,” bo wrote, “ one who wished the land in sight might, the other that it might not, be a continent. _ I myself had always been most firm in the former wish, though X am sorry to say (hat my party is so small that .1 firmly believe that there are none more heartily of it than myself and ono poor midshipman. The rest sigh for roast beef.” Between Banks Peninsula (which he describes as an island) and Tim am the Endeavour was often out of sight of the land, and this stretch of coast was one of the weakest parts of his otherwise excellent chart. Then it became so hazy that “ although we kept at no great distance from the shore . . . wo could see nothing distinct upon the land, only that there was a ridge of pretty high hills lying parallel, but a little distance, from the sea coast.” And so it was through haze and mist that the shape of Otago was first discovered to the civilised world. ELUSIVE OTAGO HEADS. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that Cook failed to discover Otago Harbour. ’ Some unknown sealing captain, about the year 1809, was to fin'd the entrance that was hidden from Cook. The Endeavour had to move very carefully through these dangerous and unknown waters. And other navigators have testified that the entrance is very hard to find, unless you know where it is. From the sea Die sandspit running out from Harrington Point gives the appearance of a continuous beach. When Dumont d’Urville arrived here in 1840 he layoff shore for some time, unable to find the entrance. The situation was saved by the arrival of an American whaling vessel, which guided the French corvette in. Even when the first immigrant ships arrived one unfortunate captain, who had nothing but Cook’s chart to sail by, was completely at a loss to find the harbour which was his destination. As he did not want to risk anything in unknown seas, he quested about for days, waiting to get a signal light from the Hoads. It must have been an infuriating finale to the long monotony of the voyage out. Cook did say ; “ The shore seemed to form one or two bays, wherein there appeared to be anchorage and shelter from south-west, west, and north-west winds. 1 had some thought of bearing up lor one of these places, but the fear of losing time and the desire I had of pushing on to the southwards, in order to sec as much of the coast as possible, or if this land should prove to he an island, to sail round it, prevented me.” UNDER CAPE SAUNDERS. The angle of Cape Saunders was so remarkable that Cook was certain that no future navigator would require anything but its latitude to identify it by. However, he mentions “ a remarkable Saddle Hill ” lying a few leagues south of the Capo. The Endeavour had spent the night off Cape Saunders, because in the growing dark Cook was uncertain in what direction the land trended. In the morning lie saw that the coast trended away from the cape in a southwesterly direction, as far as lie could see. And for the first time be was able lo see clearly what Otago looked like. “ The land is of a moderate height,” writes Cook, “ full of hills, which appear green and woody, but we saw not the least sign of inhabitants.” Dumont d’Urville was a later navigator, who did not agree with Cook’s placing of Cape Saunders. The cape, formed, as he put it, by ‘‘ elevated lands,” was very easy to find. But Cook’s chart had made the capo terminate in a point, and what was worse, the English map which d’Urville had in hi.s possession—and which was presumable based on Cook’s chart—gave to Cape Saunders the position really occupied by Taiaroa Head, and made it the southern head of Otago Harbour. d’Urville found out that this was incorrect, but in correcting this geographer’s error ho nearly wrecked the Astrolabe. For lie tided to sail into what is now known as Wicklifte Bay—supposing it to he the ■harbour. It was onlv fhe'sight of the white foam of the surf that made him give up the attempt. Very soon after he returned to France d’Urville, was to lose his life in a railway accident, hut it would seem that Wickliffe Bay was very nearly the grave of this distinguished French captain. Alter leaving Cape. Saunders behind Ibe Fndcavonr was blown oil the land for seven days, and when Cook recovered Ills position he was just off the Mol.viicux (which lie named after Ills sailing captain'). During the whole of that night thev saw a huge fire on the land. 11 We supposed this to have been set on fire hv the natives,” said Banks. “ for though this is the only sign of people we have seen, yet I think it must ho an indisputable proof that there are inhabitants, though probably very thinly scattered over the face of Hu’s very largo country.” Six days' later the Endeavour was blown round the South Cape, at the bottom of Stewart Island. ”to the fulal destruction.” says Banks, “n[ onr aerial fabric called continent.”