CAPTAIN COOK’S MEMORIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 9 January 1929, Page 3

CAPTAIN COOK’S MEMORIAL

MOUNTING OF ADMIRALTY'S GUNS MOftF. VVNDAUSM AT SHIP covr. Among tlm charge's in connection .wjtli the cost of conveying to Ship Cove life two guns ami carriages of Cook's period presented by the Admiralty were an account ol £4 4s 9d received by the Captain Cook Memorial Committee from the Hallway Department for. the handling of the guns at I’ictou, and an account, of £6 8s 2d transmitted by the Department of Internal Affairs, lor the railage from Davenport to Albert Dock, England, says the “Marlborough Express.” In .view of the national character of the. purpose of, improving the monument, r requests yvere made that these charges should be, remitted. The secretary of the committee has been, advised by Mr W. It. Miller, the ayting-stationmaster in charge at Diet on, that “iu vigw of .the fact tlnft these guns were brought from England to Pictori free of charge, by . the shipping companies, and are to to used in connection with a memorial to Captain Cook, and not in any way for commercial purposes, it lias been decided to accede to your request and waive this department s charges.” I Similarly, 49ie Department of Internal 1 Affairs has granted the request made to it, ami has advised that its account will be withdrawn. • ■ j The guns were conveyed la Ship Cove a few davs prior to the ceremony held there on 27th October in observance of the Cook bi-centcnary, but that occasion did not leave- sufficient, time to mount them alongside the monument. This work—-not a light one—for the guns weigh 17cwt each—was carried out during the holidays by a party under the direction of Air 11. •!. Stuec, whose oiler to place the guns in position was much appreciated by'the committee. The party set out for Ship Cove oil Boxing Day, but stiff easterly weather compelled it to put back. On New Year's Day another attempt was made, and, although the day was not of the best, the weather fortunately was fine after the landing, and the purpose of tho excursion was accomplished. Having been mounted, the guns add greatly to the appearance of the xnonuiment. ....... , In the inspection of tho guns at Slop Cove on 27th October, it was noticed that one of the sights was loose, and this Mr Stace took away so that screws might be made to fix the sights permanently to Die guns. “We took this sight back and fixed it on, also the front one of the same gun,” says Mr Stace, in a report forwarded to the committee; “but I am sorry to say that since our visit in October someone hail removed both sights from the other gun and taken them away. They also had climbed on to the top of the monument and done some fresh carving on the anchor. “The carriages are not over sound,” Air Stace adds,, “and with the very wet climate they will not last long with that weight on them. I consider it will be necessary for the committee to have the guns put on concrete blocks, and I would suggest that this be included in any tender let for improving the memorial. A short jetty would also be a great improvement there. We bad some difficulty in getting the ladies ashore yesterday, and the launch-owner told me that, the difficult landing kept many people from, .visiting.;the..Cove.”