COOK BI-CENTENARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 October 1928, Page 16

COOK 81-CENTENARY

PILGRIMAGE TO BIRTHPLACE SIR .1 A.MIiS PACK'S TUIUUTii STORIES O.E THE I'll! .AND THE TORTOISE The memory of Captain Tamos Cook, circumnavigator ami discoverer, was honoured on 3th September by inhabitants of Cleveland, where ho was born, and New Zealand and Australia, which he added to the Empire (states the ■Middlesbrough correspondent of the London “Observer”). Torkshiremen from all parts of the county, and official and uuoilicial representatives of “Down Under” participated in a pilgrimage of remembranco to Alar ton, Cook’s birthplace, and Great Ay ton, where lie spent ids early boyhood. Assembled on the village green at Great Ayton, in close proximity to< the old tenement house in which lie received his early education, were a naval party from the destroyer Vidette, territorial units, and other organisations. Sir Hugh Hell, Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding, presided over both ceremonies, and was supported by Sir James Farr, High Commissioner of New Zealand, and Sir George Fuller, AgentGeneral' of New South Wales, representing the High Commissioner of Australia, who is attending the League of Nations. Conference at Geneva, Sir John Harrowing, High Sheriff of Yorkshire, Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert W. Richmond, and Sir Arthur Dorman. Following the speeches, which were, broadcast, a pilgrimage was made to the old church where members of Captain Cook’s family are buried. The party then proceeded to Stewart Park, Marton, some five miles away. Here a ceremony was held within a short distance of the site cf the cottage where Cook was born. The cottage has long been demolished and the spot is now marked by a granite vase.

Sir Hugh Bell observed that the celebration was not merely to do honour to a great Yorkshireman, but to do honour to those who had conspired to build up the Empire over which our people now hold dominion. REGARD FOR MAORIS Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand, said: — “The great navigator was especially attached to New Zealand, and had a high regard for its native inhabitants — the Maoris —admittedly the finest savage race in the world. New Zealand was

his headquarters on his first voyage ii 1769, and his appointed rendezvous will his sister ship the Discovery on his twi subsequent voyages. I have mysel. stood in the little bay in New Zealam where he landed —the first white man h set foot on thuso beautiful island shores I have often visited Ship Cove, wliicl was his favourite headquarters. In boll places the New Zealand Government bin erected monuments to his memorv.

“[ have spoken of the Maori race, (he native race of New Zealand. One of tin; finest tilings, 1 think, about Captain Cook was his way of dealing with these savage races, who for the first time met white men. Such was his strict honourableness and justice of dealing, his firmness, tempered always with mercy and generosity; his humane and kindly interest in these fierce heathen and cannibal peoples; that the Maoris of New Zealand always spoke—and speak to day—of flic great discoverer in terms of respect and high regard. It was a strange irony of fate, therefore, that Cook should be so untimely cut off and cite at the hands of the savage Hawaiian in 1779.

“Yorkshire has indeed good reason to bo proud to-day of the boy humbly born here in 1723. For he was not only England’s greatest and most intrepid explorer, sailing uncharted seas for years in what we should consider a mere cockle-shell of a boat; not only gave to the world his remarkable diary, which is a piece of entrancing literature,. unsurpassed of its kind, lie was not only a scientist and a humanitarian who eon quoral scurvy, the dread scourge of centuries of seamen—but better even than all these tilings, by his force of character he raised high the English name for straightforwardness of dealing, for indomitable courage, for truth, and tor humanity. The world respects Captain Cook not only for the greatness of iiis achievements, but also because he was in all things a gallant English gentleman. “THE CAPTAIN COOKER” “Wherever he went lie endeavoured to lift up the native races and interest them in agriculture and works of civilisation. Even in liis small vessel lie managed to carry cattle, and pigs, and fowls, and seeds. These he distributed among the various islanders. His name is perpetuated in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific Ocean by that useful but indignified animal, the pig, which the inhabitants have ever since called "the Captain Cooker.” This particular pig has a long needle-like snout with a razor back, and became with the Maoris and other natives one of their staple articles of food, as well as one of their principal means of bargaining. “At Tonga, in the Pacific Ocean, I have seen a tortoise which, I believe, still lives, called ‘Captain Cook,’ because the natives say that Captain Cook himself gave it to them 150 years ago. V e are nob so far away from Captain Cook after all when there is a tortoise living out there which knew him.”

Sir George Fuller observed that Australia was fully conscious of its responsibility to the Empire, and if Captain Cook returned he would find they believed in the policy of a "white” Australia and were determined to keep their heritage for the British race for all time. “We want no admixture of other races,” declared Sir George. "We arc 93 per cent British, even more British than you are in Great Britain. \\e realise our great responsibilities in developing our heritage and the debt . wc owe to the Motherland wiio lias looked after us for the last 110 years, aiu! whose care lias enabled us to develop to our present state. We desire to nvo on the very best of terms with all nations which form the great British Empire. We realise the advantage of living under the Union Jack, and that that flag has given us liberty, freedom, and safety.” ' . Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond stressed the high character of Cook, who was entirely self-taught, who gained ris

experience in (lie great university of mercantile service and in Ihe, rough cellege of the North Sea. The foundation of his greatness was his character, and his career could be epitomised iiq the name of his ships—Adventure, hnieavour, Resolution, ami Discovery. The desire for adventure drove 1 on forth into the strange paths of the world, endeavour marked all his act 10" • resolution sustained him in many i.an gars, ami, finally, lie received Ins grim' reward of discovery. There was »• better way of showing our admiration Ilian in cultivating the sturdy independence and contempt for reliance upon others which Cook always displayed. After tlie speeches there was Mb dancing and a public meeting was be d in the Middlesbrough Town Hall tn Hm evening. It is hoped to raise sufficient funds during the celebrations, which wnl elude on 27th October, to establish a Captain Cook Nautical seholarsidp, to restore the old church at Great Ayton, and the school room in which Cup.i 1 u Cook received his education, as a permanent memorial to him.