CAPTAIN COOK'S PREDECESSORS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 181, 16 July 1912, Page 2

CAPTAIN COOK'S PREDECESSORS.

TRACES OF SPANISH VISITORS Sydney, July W. Mr. L. Hargrave, of AVocUaßri' Pc : ui .who ins dciotgtjl cQhsirfer^ip f u time to reck markings on.Qte_,coasL„'", which he bclieies tu .be. traces; of . 4 occupation 15 Oyear* -before - ’ Captain Ccok set foot on Anstratlran soil, his mile onather discovery at Wiollahra Point, on the western side of Rose Bay. Whila some men were rmployrd breiking' up stone for a foundation they came acron & hole, m hicli Mr. Hargrave thinks 1 was a well for a flagstaff pole. It is 13ft 7'ii deep, -tJ.in dian>ct?r at the [top. and him at lhe bottom. Ulotfe : to the foot of it is the Spanish synibri of conquest—a cross in a circle, known to mean, “By this sign *e conquered." A little further away is one of their numerous footmarks, wb’rh meant- ■trarellicg.” A few feet from thr flagstiff hole is sit-in- - script ion wh’ch has cxc’trd cdfios- ' ity. It is a largo figure. "I” and ?!.’ roughly marked. On Mr. 1/argrave asking the permission of th? Woollabra ( onnei! to continue . explcritions ; '.i the vicinity, the Mayor (Aldennan Magr.ey), who is deeply interested in these <lii-covcries, visited the locality, which* waa; " centuries ago. probably an aboriginal camping groumi. Mr. Hargrave thinks’t WM the landing pk.,c of Spanish crews* who * isited Sydney in the sevenI term;h century. The request- made ißi Mr. Hargrave has been granted j i-' the a Mermen.