COOK MEMORIAL COMMITTEE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 4 March 1909, Page 5

COOK MEMORIAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Captain Cook Memorial Committee, who have in hand tho project of erecting a monument at Ship Cove,- Queen Charlotte Sound, was held last night in the Blenheim Courthouse. There were present: Mr J. Duncan, M.P., (Chairman), F. Stephenson-Smith (Commissioner of, Crown lands), the Yen. Archdeacon Virace, Rev. Mr Howell, Mr Robt. Allan, Mr R. Ewing, and W. R. Allen (Secretary). Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from several members.

The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called at short notice ioy tile authorisation of certain transactions immediately required by the Secretary. The shortness of the notice convening the meeting precluded a representative attendance; but the business was only of a formal nature, and it was intended to call another meeting at an early date to settle any controversial matters. Mr Duncan went on to explain that though some months had elapsed since the previous meeting, the movement had not by any means slackened. The delay had been on account of the General Election, the holidays, the harvesting, etc., it being thought wise to postpone operations in the meantime. The movement was going ahead satisfactorily, so far as Marlborough was concerned, and there was .every reason. to believe that it would be brought to a successful issue in the near future. One of the principal items of 'business just now was to take steps to secure the Government subsidy of £100. The Secretary reported that about. £300 was assured, and it was probable that further subscriptions would augment that amount. The £300 was made up in the following way:—About £40 subscribed and actually in hand; £35 promised and that could be relied upon; £96 More Men Fundj £25 promised by Union Steamship 'Company; and £100 Government subsidy. Correspondence from the Minister of Internal Affairs was to the effect that the £100 subsidy would be paid over on receipt of proof that the Committee possessed £100 in its own right. With the More Men Fund duly transferred to trie Captain Cook "bank account the Committee would have the necessary "basis on which to apply for the Government subsidy, and also for the donation of the Union Company, which had made a somewhat similar stipulation.

A resolution was passed.: "That the Committee now consider the Captain Cook movement so far advanced that Mr S. J. Furn«ss, (who had generously arranged for the application of that fund to the Cook Memorial movement) be asked to duly transfer the South African More Men Fund to the Cook Memorial Fund.' 3

A similar resolution was passed.with regard to the Union Company's donation.

• 'It was resolved that, after collecting the various promised subscriptions, the Secretary prepare the returns required by the Government, and make application for the £lOC subsidy. ;

It was remarked that the £300 now in sight'brought the movement to such a stage that the Committee could make arrangements for the carrying out of the work. There seemed, to be anxiety on the part of some members to have the monument unveiled on the occasion of fho Marlborough Jubilee (November next)j and if that were to be done no time would have to be lost in "fixing upon the design of the monument and arranging for the contract.

The Secretary reported that Mr J. Duncan, M.P., had donated £3 to the 'Fund; and Dr Hocken, of Dunedin, ; £2 r2s. • ■ . :

i Votes of thanks were accorded to the Huddart Parker Company for £3 3s; to the Shaw Savill Company for shipping out to New Zealand free of cost the old ship's sun presented to the Committee by the Admiralty; to the "Union 'Company for shipping the gun to Picton free of cost; and to Mr Couch, "district railway manager, for "his kindness1 in storing the gun at "Picton. SHIP COVE. Mr R. Allan reported that with Mr .Stephenson-Smith and others, 4 he visited Ship Cove and examined the proposed site as to its stability. They ascertained that a' sound and reliable ifoundation could be obtained on the spot originally selected, and advised the Committee to adhere to the site. 'OJhe recommendation was adopted. DESIGN OF MONUMENT. A lengthy took place as to the best means of securing a suit.able design: It was suggested that, with a view t*> expedition, the responsibility be placed at one© :in the hands of a local axdhitect; Imt Mr Duncan and others wen© inclined Ao adhere to their first idea, that the movement should be givsii a national scope, and that competitive- designs should be invited from all parts of New Zealand. The opinion was also .expressed that Wellington, Ohrlstchu-rch and Nelson might appropriately .exhibit a more active interest in a movement so deserving of tke ibest instincts of New Zealandtiim. ]"'".' • "'' .

The Secretary said that he had writte.fi to all thse places mentioned, and the' most satisfactory reply Was from Christchurch, the editor of the Lyttelton Time's Having undertaken to bring the matter under the notice 6i the Mayor with a view to a jxublic meeting, whenever the Marlborough Coxnmitfiea gave the word. Aetiye agents at "Wellington, Nelson and elsewhere would be greatly welcomed .by the Committee.

It was decided to call a representative special meeting for Wednesday next at the 'Courthouse at 3 p.m., 1.1 otices to be sent out for the purpose. The object of the meeting would be to consider whether to call for competitive designs for the memorial or leave it in local hands; and also to consider whether a further appeal should be made to Wellington and other parts of New Zealand or go on with the work as they stood.

Mr Lucena (Picton) was elected a member of the Committee.