COOK MEMORIAL FUND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 537, 3 October 1902, Page 3

COOK MEMORIAL FUND.

GOVERNMENT VOTE OE £SOO.

Tho Secretary of the Cook Memorial Fund ha 3 boon in communication with tho Government during tho past month in regard to a voto for the proposed memorial to Captain Cook. Last evening Mr Gaudin received the following wiro from Mr Carroll: “In reply to your communication, there is an item £SOO on the Supplementary 'Estimates.” Our Wellington special correspondent also telegraphed last ovoning : “ For tho Cook Memorial at Gisborne thero is a vote of £OOO (£1 for £1) on the Supplementary Estimates.”

A SUGGESTION. Undor dato of September 23rd, Mr Russell Duncan, of Port Ahuriri, Napier, writes:—"l have much ploasure in enclosing a guinea towards tho Capt. Cook Memorial Fund, and wish the movement every success. As well as erecting a monument at Poverty Bay, I think you Ought to go further and petition tllfl Government to set asido Cook’s Covo, Tologa, and keop it in its natural stato. Tho Government have reservod tho land in Queen Charlotte Sound round Ship Covo, and also Motuard Island, and I think tboy should do the satno at Cook’s Covo. Besidos ■* tho historical associations connected with this spot, its natural beauties are very groat, and in timo to come it might well bo a resort for tourists.”

" Fuimus Trees,” Nelson, writes:— " Please find enclosed subscription (10s 6d, to the Cook Memorial. I trust tho Committee will bo successful in their undertaking, and that a monumont worthy of Captain Cook will bo orocted.”

Contributed by E. M., Dunlop. 'At the present time, in -hew of the projected gjujUiering on tho !)th of Oc- • itober, to commemorate the first landing of Cajptjain Cook on our shores, and to inaugurate the foundation of a monument to his memory, it will

doubtless be of interest to trace even

yet something ol the story of " l .the great mariner, and especially to recall other monuments erected to and preserved in his honor. The average young New Zealander is probably naturally impressed with tho idea that the exploration of our islands constitutes Captain Coc(k’s chief claim to fame. The benefits which he conferred on our race are, however, worldwide and far-reaching in their scope, extending one might almost say from pole to poke Althoijgh less than 125 - years have " elapsed since] his tragic death, the figure of Captain Cook begins to merge into the imagination a dim form set in a halo of the mist o£ his romantic voyagings from isle to isle. By no means only tne grim jnariner, however, Cook was a man oi culture and refinement, a man who at certain periods of his life devoted himself with self-denying pains to the careful study of such subjects as would prove useful to him in his profession, such as mathematics, astronomy, etc. At the siege of Quebec, under ,Wolfe, Cook was entrusted wUh- the poundings ■. and preparation of plans oi the river and channels, as well as With the superintendence of the embarkation. His studies enabled him in the following year to make special observations on' an eclipse of tbe sun, which occurred while he was occupied in the exploration and survey of the coasts ol Newfoundland and Eaorador. In consequence of this, lie was commissioned by the Royal Geographical Society to proceed to a convenient station in the Pacific, whence he might observe the Transit of Venus. On this voyage, he discovered the Society Islands, explored and demonstrated the insularity of New Zealand, and explored the eastern coast of Australia. In his next voyage, lie discovered New Caledonia, Georgia, and other islands, defined their geographical position, and sailed nearer to the South Pole than any former navigator.

His 'third and last voyage was undertaken by his own determined will, [showing how strong was his passion for the sea and his devotion to the Interests ol his race. Leaving comfortable quarters provided tor nim by a, grateful country, leaving loving wife and children to whom he was devotedly attached, fie set out, yet again to sail the unknown seas, this time in jquest of the mysterious North West Passage, which had baffled ihe researches of our most famous navigators He discovered the Sandwich Islands, explored the western coast of America, demonstrated the proximity of Asia and America, and sailed through the strait between. During this voyage, however, he met his tragic end at the hands of a savage horde of the island of Owhyhee. , , „ . It seems much to be regretted that no descendants of Captain Cook remain to do hnor to nis name. He was married to a lady t.o whom fie remained faithfully attached, although he placed his duty to his country before his own private happiness. He bail six children, hut only one of Ithese may be said to nave reached manhood, and he perished w.married in the service of his country, being lost at sea off the ship Spitfire, 'which he commanded. Another son reached 17 years, and died of fever ; another, like his brotiier, perished at sea while following his gallant father’s profession. the other children died in infancy. Thus Mrs Cook found herself bereft of all. She survived her husbaul no less than 50 years, and died at Chatham in 1835, aged 93. . . She was buried beside two of her sons, in the Church of St. Andrew’s 'the Great, Cambridge, and here may l>o found perhaps the earliest memorial to the memory of Captain Cook. A tablet set within the Communionrail bears the following inscription : ‘‘ In (memory of, Captain James Cook Df the Royal Navy, one of the most Celebrated navigators that this or former ages can boast of; who was killed by tiie natives of Ownyhcc, in the Pacific Ocean, on the 11th day of February, 1779, ip the 51st year of his lifef" Over tiic tablet is an appropriate naval design, and underneath a shield, globe, and star, with the motto, “ Nil inlcntalum yehgmt. The names of Iris wife and children arc engraved on the same tablet, and on another in the body of the Church. The most interesting memorial to Captain Cook is found on the shore at Owhyhee, near the spot where lie was murdered. It consists of the stump of a cocoanut-tree, which has been fallen and been replaced end inscribed by successive hands on sheets of copper" fastened to the trunk. The first plato was put on by H.M. ship Carrysford It. H. Lord George Pallet, and is almost undecipherable. On tho second plato is roughly punched the following inscription i 1 ' This treo having fallen was replaced on this spot by H.M. steam vessel Cormorant by T. Gordon, Esq., captain, which visited this spot May 18, 1546.” . , Tho third plato has on it : “ This shoet and capping were put on by tho Sparrow Hawk, .Sept. 16, 1839. In order to preserve this monument to the memory of Cook give this a coat of tar.” Tho fouth plato testifies : “ Near this spot fell Captain Jamos Cook, 11. N., tho renowned Navigator who discovered this Island, A.D., 1778, H.M. Imogene, Oct. 17, 1837.” From these inscriptions wo precoive how warmly Captain Cook's fellows navigators appreciated hiß patriotic services. AVe can easily picture tho different scones; tho rough seamen standing around in reverential silenco doiDg honor to one who had boon such an ornament to their profession ; the wondering Natives, and the officers in tho attire of a bygono period. About a mile from this spot, and on rising ground 500 feet above the sea, stands another memorial of equal interest and earlier date, erected by tho officers and crew of H.M.S. Blonde. It is a post about 10 feet high, set in rough blocks of lava and enclosod by a stono wall, and is thus iuscribcd: —“ In memory of Captain James Cook, R.N., who discovered this island ; A.D. 1778. This humble monument is erected by his fellow-countrymen A.D. 1825.” Pleasing and interesting as these memorials are, put up by the spontaneous gaod-JssHog individual appreciative com-

patriots, it is but fitting that a more substantial and lasting monument should be contributed by the hands of his grateful country.

This was at length arranged, and in il 1874 a handsome and solid obelisk was h erectod as near as possible to the spot h whore the great eircurn-navigator met his d I end by savage hands. It is on the shore g I just above high-water mark, andjis fixed on e a platform of lava. Tho monument stands r 27ft high, and is constructed of a durable 1 concrete. Lady Franklin, with others, was a contributor, and it bears the follow t iug inscription : —“ In memory of the great > eircurn-navigator Captain dames Cook, * R.N., who discovered theso islands on tho ' 18th of dan., 1778, and fell near this spot on the 14th of Feb., 1779.” This monument was erected in November, A.I). 1874, by somo of his fellow countrymen. A I largo gathering of visitors, residents, sailors, natives, and others woro present at tho unveiling of this monument. An account of tho coremony appears in tho I Honolulu Gazette of the date. H.M.S. Scout had conveyed many of the party to tho spot, and her officers and crew took a prominent part in tho proceedings. It is easily seen that tho people of Gisborne in holding a gathering in honor of the great mariner and inaugurating a monument on thoir shore to his memory, are worthily fulfilling tho traditions of thoir race. They are honoring one to whom each and all of us owe a special and individual debt of gratitudo. Since I the whito-winged Messenger uppoared, the harbinger of peace, prosperity and plenty, | what marvellous changes have been ] I wrought. The whole country has been i redeemed from savagory, and given over from hungry cannibalism to a happy and e glorious civilisation. All this wo owe to ( tho thoughtful, hardy, and self-denying \ marinor, who visited our shores again and g again, carrying elemental benefits of seeds g and animals, fearing neither danger nor S' privation, so that ho could do his duty in V extending tho British Empire and bene- tl filing humanity. pi