HOBSON'S LANDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 10

HOBSON'S LANDING

HISTORIC SPOT LOCATED THE ORAKEI SETTLEMENT Investigations to determine the exact spot at which Governor Hobson landed at Orakei on March 14, 1841, were carried out yesterday, when the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, accompanied by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, visited the Orakei Maori settlement. With the aid of some of the elderly people of the village the spot was located at the" north-eastern end of the area. In visiting the village the Mayor was anxious to locate and mark the place of Hobsou's landing while the evidence which the old people could give was still available. He had the assistance of Ngapipi Rewiti, through whom he interviewed several aged Maoris. They agreed that the landing place was at the far end of- the settlement, some distance back from the present beach at a point where the halfformed Crescent Road joins the waterfront road. Mr. Hutchison said the city engineer

would make a plan on which the spot ■would be indicated, so that its location would bo permanently fixed. Should it be desired at some later date to erect a monument or statue to Hobson there would then be no doubt where it should be placed. Another point of interest at Orakei is the spot where Hobsou sat to hear the speeches of the chiefs. This has long been agreed upon and is very close to his landing place. This spot is beside the partly-demolished house just inside the waterfront road embankment.