CAPTAIN COOK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 12 February 1913, Page 3

CAPTAIN COOK

Memorial at skip cove

UNVEILED "BY THE GOVERNOR

(United Press Association )

BLENHEIM, Feb. 11

An. historic event occurred - to-day, when the memorial So Captain. Cook, erected in. Ship Cove, some 26 miles from Blenheim, was unveiled under impressive circumstances, by Liverpool. The weather, though threatening in the morning, lent itself perfectly to the occasion later in the day. The function was thoroughly of a successful character. Large numbers of people journeyed to the Cove from Marlborough and Wellington. It is estimated that the excursionists on the beach numbered 5000. The Mararoa ran an excursion from Wellington, carrying 500 excursionists. The Wellington ferry steamer Duchess assisted, with all the craft available at Picton.

The Governor, accompanied by the Countess and suite, landed from the Tutanekai shortly after mid-day, the Amokura firing a salute as he left the vessel. The Vice-regal party was met bv the Hons. F. M. B. Fisher and F. H. D. Bell.

Proceeding to the monument, Lord Liverpool delivered an impressive address in which he said they had come there to do honour to the man whose guiding star through life was unswerving zeal and undaunted per.BevPj'ance. There had been many men in all ages, from all nations, who had cheerfully and devotedly given their lives and best years in the service of exploration and science for the benefit of their fellow men, but what specially appealed to them to-day was, the fact that Jams* Cook belonged to the race of which all were so justly proud. Having traced historical deeds of the great navigator, Lord Liverpool concluded by saying although many years had passed, we were endeavouring 10 give full expression to our appreciation of the memory, not only of an intrepid navigator and explorer, but a great and gallant Britisher.

Having concluded his main address, the Governor created a profound l sensation by reading a wireless message announcing the disaster which had. befallen Captain Scott's southern party. The Governor made a striking analogous allusion to the heroism of the Antarctic parly and the deeds of the great man to whose memory they were doing justice that day. The Governor's speech was followed by remarks from Mr John Duncan, who explained that the monuments on the mainland, and at Ship / Cove, did not represent the completion of the memorial movement. That work, on which £5250 had been expended, was to be succeeded by the erection of a considerably larger monument at Motuara Island, in the vicinity, on which Captain Cook proclaimed British sovereignty over the South Island.

Speeches were also made by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher (who paid a handsome tribute to Mr Robert McNabV active interest in the movement), and) Mersrs R. McCallum, M.P., and Robert MoNab.' All the speakers appealed strongly for support to enable the committee to accomplish the objee.t at the .earliest possible date. Subsequently about a hundred official guests were entertained by the committee at luncheon. The Governor was presented with a framed photograph of the monument itself, surmounted by an old shin's anchor, and .has at the foot an old cannon of Captain Cook's time, sup plipd by the British Admiralty. Constructed of ferro concrete, the monument has on each side an mscrip ti<">r> set'in- out the dates and particular? of CaDtain Cook's five visit* to the Cove, incli'din~ a characteristic Maori address.

The Governor party will cruise in the Sounds till to-morrow morning, when the Tutanekai will stenm to Picton. wh»i"(j the Governor will be officially welcomed. The Vice-reeral party will then proceed to Blenheim, where it will ,-Ttfend the Beautifying Society's garden fete.