IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10727, 26 October 1928, Page 4

IN THE EARLY DAYS.

(To The Editor). Su-—Jn to-day’s issue, L notice an' account of a lecture given by 1)r R J. Elder, Professor or History n the Otago University the subject being, The Early Exploration. Iu his opening remarks he says: “Strange as it may seem, the fir.it navigator to explore the coast _or New Zealand was a Frenchman. This is not correct, Captain Cook was the first to explore and chart the coast of New Zealand and that honor cannot be given to a Frenchman I presume he is alluding to De Surville who was at Matavi Bay Tahiti on board the “Saint Jean Babtiste. Owing to the state of the health of his crew, he decided to make for New Zealand and picked up the land on December 12, 1769 m latitude 35 37 just to the south or Hokianga. Gn ' December 16, he sighted the Three Kings islands and rounded Cane Maria Van Diem an. Going south, he cast anchor in Doubtless Bav on December 17. This bay was named by Captain Cook, who passed it on December 8. the wind not permitting him to enter it. The condition of De Surville’s crew was terrible. He had already lost CO or his men through scurvy and the remainder of his crew were so weak that thev could not launch the lona boats and they had to use the small boats •to get the men on shore. Very heavy gales were experienced and the •vessel was rerv nearly wrecked, fme was within *2O yards or the rocks when the anchor, with SO fathoms of -cable out, held. She was enabled to make sail and beat out alter losing four anchors, having only one anchor left. He decided to -clear out and make for Peru and, on D" comber 31st, he sailed out or the buy and, at 5 o’cleok on New Years morning, New Zealand xaded irom sight On April Bth, he made the harbor of Chilca. but was unfortunately drowned by the capsizing ot a boat in trying to land. De burviile has not left a single name. Cape Surville has given place to North Cape, which was named by Cook. De Surville did not see it until five days later, so that I think Dr. H. J. Elder must give the honor to Captain Cook of being the first navigator to explore the coast or New Zealand. —1 am. yours etc.. G. J-BLACK