A COOK MEMORIAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 90, 15 April 1908, Page 3

A COOK MEMORIAL.

''■■"•.The att'eiiticn that,is being given to; the early history of the Dominion is really a "symptom: of the beginnings of a truly national sentiment. Carlyle, or some other equally cynical publicist, eo-uld say nothing better of history than that it was a record of crimes. Fortunately there is history of another class, the record of , the peaceful beginnings of peaceful development, andwe 'are fortunate in being able to recover from the past most of the essential facts of the early days of the European connection with New Zealand. We may be blamed, perhaps, for a tendency to make heroes of the pioneers, but hero-worship is the best method of impressing: national traditions upon the minds of the young. It is an invaluable aid to the development of patriotism, Whether Cook, the first British-New Zealandefy was the greatest of dur explorers does not concern us. He was great in his achievements, and the spirit that animated him in his voyages is one that should animate us in these days. He) has no adequate memorial in New Zealand, and we are, glad to learn that the Marlborough movement for the erection of a monument at Ship Cove is being taken up with- enthusiasm. ■ The Gisborne monument is by no; means worthy of its object, and we "trust that the Blenheim committee will profit by the blunder of the Poverty Bay folk in this connection. Ship Cove is: no doubt.the most suitable of all sites for a Cook monument. It is the spot most closely identified with the voyager's ,name, and its associations give it- an entirely national importance, i There is good warrant, therefore, for the decision of the Blenheim committee to appeal to k the whole of New Zealand lor subscriptions towards the cost of erecting a Cook monument in the Cove. If the project cannot be carried out in a worthy manner it should be abandoned, and the Blenheim people would have shown a poor sense of their responsibility if they had not invited the co-operation of the whole community. ; It is proposed, we understand, to invite competitive designs for.the monument, and when, the. plans are /matured we ishall be very glad to give them publicity. In the meantime we think1 that steps should be taken to organise the movement on more national lines, and that local committees should be formed to assist the body that has the matter in hand in Blenheim. There must be many people in Canterbury to whom the sentiment that attached to the name of Captain Cook appeals strongly, ahd doubtless they will be' ready-_to subscribe towards the erec^ tion of v the memorial. Pending the 'appointment of a local committee we ■snail ourselves be happy to forward their donations to the general treasurer.—Lytteltcn Times.