NELSON REMEMBRANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20603, 3 November 1941, Page 7

NELSON REMEMBRANCE

LANDING OF WAKEFIELD DEDICATION OF STONE (Per Press Association.) NELSON, this day. The centennial celebration to commemorate the first landing of Captain Arthur Wakefield and the arrival of the first vessel to enter Nelson harbour was held on Wakefield Quay on Saturday. A stone marking the spot where Captain Wakefield came ashore was dedicated by the Bishop of Nelson. Later in the afternoon there was a function at the old flagstaff site on Brittania Heights, where Wakefield first unfurled the flag and declared the loyalty of Nelson pioneers to the Crown. The same flag which was brought to Nelson by Captain Wakefield in 1841 was used at the ceremony on Saturday, the flag being broken from a sapling flagstaff by Mrs. Maud Kelly, of Christchurch, a relative of the late Captain Cross, the first pilot at Nelson and one of the three m<yi who discovered Nelson Haven.

The Mayor, Mr. E. R. Neale, who is the chairman of the provincial centennial committee, briefly told the story of the expedition, the arrival of the ships, and the discovery of Nelson Haven behind Boulder Bank. He paid tributes to the early settlers and to the character and leadership of Captain Wakefield.

Mr. J. A. Harley, president of the Early Settlers’ Memorial Association, explained that the large-scale celebrations originally planned had been considerably reduced on account of the war, but each important event in the establishment of the settlement would be adequately commemorated. The first function had been held at Kaiteriteri three weeks ago, when a drinking fountain at the same spring Captain Wakefield had drawn water after the arrival of the expedition ships at Astrolabe was dedicated. The chief functions would take place during the week following February 1, 1942, the anniversary of the foundation of Nelson settlement.