COOK CELEBRATIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6203, 7 October 1921, Page 6

COOK CELEBRATIONS

AN IMPRESSIVE FUNCTION.

TRIBUTES TO BRITAIN'S GREATEST NAVIGATOR. The anniversary of the first landing of Captain Cook on New Zealand shores was commemorated; yesterday afternoon, when an impressive service was held at the monument which marks the landing place of the great navigator. Despite the extremely unfavourable weather, there wa6 a goodi attendance, all the local 1 * bodies and institutions being well represented. The Salvation Army Band was in/ attendance, and, prior to the commencement of the service, rendered a number of appropriate selections. Capt. J. R. Kirk, as a representative of the Royal Colonial Institute, stated, in opening the service, that the weather was more welcome than propositions, and commended those who had attended to do honor to a very great man. They were, he said, honored by the attendance of Brigadier-General Richardson, who was one of the most popular and highly respected of .New Zealand's officers, and under whom he had Been privileged to serve. Mr Kirk apologised for the absence of a number of prominent citizens, and read the following messages which he had received:— . . , From the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C. “Regret very much that I shall not he able to give myself the pleasure of being with you to-day to join in celebration of the 152nd anniversary of the landing of Captain Cook, E.N., .at -Poverty Bay. It is proper that such an important and history-making event should bo fittingly commemorated aud those responsible for arrangements are to be congratulated on their efforts. Best wishes for a successful function." From Mr K. S. Williams, H.P. “Whilst regretting my inability to be present I wish to associate myself with you in keeping green the memory of one of the Empire's most renowned explorers." From the Royal Colonial Institute, Loudon: —

“Council and fellows join in reverence to memory of Captain Cook who opened Southern seas to the British race." From the Canterbury Branch of the Koval Colonial Institute: ' “Tho fellows of the Canterbury Branch of the Royal Colonial Institute on tie 152nd anniversary of the landing of Captain Cook at Poverty Bay desire to convey to the fellows <: 5 of the Gisborne Branch, heai'tiest greetings and congratulations on the success which has. crowned the settlers’ efforts and upon their loyalty, sacrifice, and devotion to united Empire."

Continuing his remarks. Captain Kirk said that he had to thank the band for its attendance, and the Haxbor Board for its liberal display of bunting at the river entrance. They were also indebted to the gentlement who annually provoked discussion as to the correct date of Cook’s landing, and thereby created great interest in the celebrations. Tradition, he said, approved the declaiming, at such a gathering, of an oration or poetry written for the occasion, and he concluded by reciting the verses composed by Mrs E. M. Dunlop. Canon Packe, in addressing the gathering, said that it would not be fair to detain them in such unpleasant. weather by a lengthy speech They were present, he said, to pay homage to the illustrious memory of a man who was, perhaps, the greatest navigator of our race. Captain Cook, he said, had always striven to do his best to lay solid foundations for the Empire to which we belonged, and it was through him that New Zealand be-, came a part of that Empire, although it was 50 years before British statesmen had taken control of the country. He had intended, for the children's sake, to traverse some of the life of the great explorer, and he wanted to give to the children a lesson of Empire. They should realise that a seagirt land was dependent for existence on the British Navy, and as long as England was strong on the sea, the Empire was inviolate. He was strongly in favor of the Navy League, which fostered a love for the sea, and did honor to the great navigators of the past. The question of the day was in his opinion, of little importance, as they were not commemorating the act-u-xl landing so much as what it por- }, nded —a single unit of importance in such an Empire as we had to-day. It was, he thought, possible, that Cook had first landed on a Saturday night, but ,being religious—as they were in those days—had returned to his vessel ‘to quietly spend the Sabbath, and landed again on the Monday morning. In concluding, he deplored the fact that so little was done to immortalise the name of so distinguished a man, who had done so much for the Empire. In a brief and appropriate address, the Deputy-Mayor (Mr 11. DeCosta) said that if Captain Cook could have been present at the gathering, he would have looked at the prosperous surrounding districts, and asked how he ever came to name the place “Poverty Bay," and would realise now that (he appellation was a misnomer. It was. he ventured to suggest the only mistake the great navigator had ever made in his life. If the Natives one hundred and fifty-two years ago had shown the same cordiality and hospitality as they extended nowadays, he was sure the district would have been given a. more appropriate name. It was ' a. fortuitnous circumstance, he said, that Cook had first seen Young Nick's Head by daylight, as otherwise he might have passed right on and New Zealand fallen into the hands of some other nation. He was proud of the honor of attending such a function, and to have the opportunity of saying a few words of appreciation of the intrepid navigator. General Richardson, who was loudly applauded on rising to speak, said that j lie was pleased that lie had been asked to be present at a function on such an historic spot, and in honor of so great a man as Captain Cook. It was, he said, a great honor to be present on sueli an occasion, and he wondered how many there were who realised that it was their duty to pay homage to Cook and his men. The discovery of Australia, New Zealand and North America by the great English navigators, had only been brought about by the intrepid daring and the overcoming of many difficulties by her great seamen of the past. As a result of tbeir efforts, however, England had developed into (he greatest nation in the world. The monument to Cook was to him an inspiration such as was Nelson’s monument in Trafalgar Square. This had always reminded him of the nation's indebtedness to the man, and to England’s sea-power. They must sacrifice everything, if need be. for sea-power, and the memorial to Captain Cook was a symbol of this power in the past. He would like to see similar monuments elsewhere to remind people of the foundations of their own countries. As a soldier, they might expect him to think first of the military, but his first thought was of the navy, and sea-power, and the need for maintaining it at all costs. New Zealanders must remember that two-thirds of the population of the world were around the Pacific. The population of other countries was increasing and they would he seeking to enter other territories. When this expansion was sought if was to be hoped that it would not be towards New Zealand.

Mr>Thomas Todd s polee briefly of the dangers and difficulties which had to be faced by Captain Cook in bis voyages. and said that it was fitting the great commander and the men who sailed under him should be honored,

as it was through, them that we were living in New Zealand. “I call upon those ’ present to bear witness that this great honor is thrust upon me," said Mi' J. S. Barton, S.M., when prevailed upon to briefly address the gathering. The function, he said, reminded him of . the fact that" Cook had come to Poverty Bay for water. It appeared that his visit had been 152 years too soon. This was, lie contended, an indication of the indirect way in which we progressed. Sometimes men spent years looking for things without success, but the same thing would be discovered subsequently without effort. Englislunen had gone all over the world looking for venture, and m drawing the parallel which he had mentioned lie was reminded of the fact that Englishmen had set out to find the Golden Fleece, and had discovered Australia. They had not realised their success, and it was years afterwards before it was found and that Australia was really the Golden Fleece, a name by which it was now known. A. large number of beautiful floral emblems were then laid upon the monument on behalf of the New Zealand Navy League, Cook County Council, Waikoliu County Council, Cook Hospital Board, Salvation Army, Women’s National Reserve, Harbor Board, Victoria League, J. W. Witty Government Departments, Royal Colonial Institute, Women’s Club, Gisborne School and Cook County College. # Many of the wreatlis contained suitable inscriptions, that from the Royal Colonial Institute bearing the words: “In proud and reverent memory of Captain Cook, R.N., a very gallant gentleman." The wreaths from the Women’s National Reserve and the Women’s Club, were the work of Mrs T. A. Crawford, while that of the Royal Colonial Institute. which was in the form of the Institute's badge was made by Mrs J. E. Kirk. The others were made by Miss Barnes and Mr Alex Thompson, and all evoked much favorable comment ;

The service terminated, as it began, with the singing of the National Anthem- '