FOUNDER OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19740, 13 September 1927, Page 13

FOUNDER OF AUCKLAND.

CAPTAIN HOBSON'S MEMORY. HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY. SCHOOL CHILDREN'S TRIBUTE. On September 10, 1842, New Zealand's first Governor, Captain .William Hobson, R.N., passed away at the age of 49. Three days later, deeply mourned by both Maoris and settlers, he was laid to rest in the Grafton Cemetery, at a spot close to where the Grafton Bridge now joins Symonds Street. For the past three years this historic anniversary has beep fittingly observed by senior scholars of the Newton Central School, and yesterday a similar ceremony was carried out under the direction of the headmaster, Mr. S. Walker. ( All the boys and girls of standards V. and VL visited the grave with selected representatives from the other standards. They brought simple and beautiful wreaths and posies of their own making. Freesias, rosemary, forget-me-nots .and arum lilies were chiefly used and a wreath from ex-pupils of the school was of white daisies. After Mr. Walker had spoken, school prefects laid the offerings in position around the tomb. It is a plain, marble slab on concrete, surrounded by a well-kept iron railing. The essential facts that give to Captain Hobson his unique place in the annals of New Zealand are recorded in an inscription'on the Symondi Street railing. "Passersby are reminded that below this bridge repose the honoured remains of Captain William Hobson, R.N., who proclaimed the British Sovereignty over New Zealand in January, 1840, was Lieutenant Governor from January, 1840, to May, 1841, and first Governor of New Zealand from May, 1841, to September 10, 1842." "The history of New Zealand does not receive adequate treatment in our schools, but I want you to see in this little country of our' own there are historic examples even more inspiring to us than the stories of older countries," said Mr. Walker, in addressing the scholars grouped round the grave. They had come again on their annual pilgrimage to pay tribute to the man who was the founder of Auckland. If it had not been for him, the city would probably have been founded somewhere about where Paumure now is. Captain Hobson set himself a certain course, which he believed to be his duty, and he followed it right through with devotion. He settled the troubles of the time by the wonderful Treaty of Waitangi, which was unique in the world as having been contracted between what was understood to be a savage nation and a civilised people, .lie was faced with great difficulties, so great that they practically killed him. When he died the Maoris thought so much of him that they asked the Imperial authorities to send out as their next Governor a man as good as the first one. Mr. Walker said it seemed to him the tombstone was quite inadequate for the man who was the founder oi Auckland, the first Governor of the country and one of our greatest pioneers. He should have a monument on one of the he ghts froin which they could think of him as looking down on the wonderful growth of the city. Two outstanding features of Captain Hobson's character were his devotion to duty and his steadfast integrity. Mr. H. tt. VV. King, a member of the Auckland Education Board, told the children that Governor Hobson was a man who lived in every sense up to the New ton Central School motto, "Truth without fear." He was the leader of many of those great pioneers who had made the country what it is to-day. He died a martyr, because it was the persecutions he suffered from 'those whose dishonest land speculations he had checked that hastened on his death. The boys and girls afterwards paid a visit of respect to the grave of arother notable pioneer, Judge Frederick E. Manning, who is buried close by.