MEMORY OF HOBSON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21596, 14 September 1933, Page 11

MEMORY OF HOBSON

CEREMONY AT. GRAVESIDE TRIBUTE BY ARCHBISHOP NEED FOR FITTING MEMORIAL The memory of Captain William Hobson, R.N., first Governor of New Zealand and founder of Auckland City, was honoured yesterday when the pupils of the Newton Central school made their ninth annual pilgrimage to Captain Hobson's grave in the Symonds Sti-eet Cemetery. A ceremony was also held at the graveside of Frederick Edward Maning, an early Judge of the Native Land Court and friend of the Maori race. Wreaths were laid on both graves by senior pupils. Mr. Spenceley Walker, headmaster of the school, who was responsible for organising the ceremony, presided and addressed the children briefly on the life and work of Hobson. He deplored the fact that apart from tablets and place names there was no adequate memorial to this pioneer Governor, and he said he hoped one day to see a fitting monument erected in the city. The Primate, Archbishop Averill, also gave an address. "I believe very much in hero worship," he said, "and Hobson has always been one of my heroes in connection with the founding of Auckland. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Spenceley Walker for the interest he has taken in commemorating this great man, and I entirely agree with him in what he says about the need for a suitable and worthy memorial." Honouring a Good Man

The archbishop said that if it were permissible he would like to offer two prizes to the Newton Central school, to bo awarded to the boy and girl writing the best essay on Hobson. He wanted the children to realise the strength of Hobson, who came to New Zealand to do a hard task, in the performance of which he suffered ill-health, and died on September 10, 1842, 91 years ago. His death was lamented by both Europeans and Maoris. The esteem in which the Governor was held was shown by a petition of Maori chiefs to Queen Victoria regarding the appointment of his successor in office. The petition, from which the archbishop quoted, read as follows:—"Let him (the new Governor) be a good man. Look out for a good man—a man of judgment. Let not a troubler come here or one 'puffed up.' Let him he a good man, as this Governor who has just died."

"William Hobson was a good man, and I want you to remember, boys and girls, that in honouring Hobson you are honouring yourselves," concluded the archbishop. Friend of the Maoris The career of Judge Maning was outlined by Mr. J. W. Shaw at the graveside of the Judge. Mr. Shaw said Maning was an Irishman who had all the brightness and liveliness of his race. He differed greatly from Hobson, who was a stern, strong man with many burdens, but there was just as much room in early New Zealand for the dare-devil type represented by Maning as the official type of Hobson. Maning loved the Maoris, and as a Judge of the Native Land Court he was most trusted —the white man who never let the Maoris down. A hundred years ago this year Maning came to New Zealand and landed at Hokianga, and 50 years ago he died in England. In accordance with his last request, his remains were brought to New Zealand to be laid to rest in "the far-off land I love so well."