SHIP COVE MEMORIAL.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13647, 12 February 1913, Page 4

SHIP COVE MEMORIAL.

IMPRESSIVE HISTORICAL CERE-

MONY

UNVEILING BY THE GOVERNOR

[United Press Association.]

Blenheim, Feb. 11. | An lias-tori© event occurred to-day when the memorial to Captain Cook, erected in Ship Cove, gome 25 miles from -Blenheim, wa§ unveiled under impressive circumstances by Lord Liverpool. The weather, though threatening in the morning, lent itself perfectly to the occasion later in the .day. The function .was thoroughly of a successful character. Large numbers ©f people journeyed to the Cove from MarlboroiigJi and Wellington. It is estimated that the excursionists on (the beach numbered 5000. The Mararoa ran an excursion from ; Wellington, carrying close^oii 500" Excursionist's,'; The \¥el- | lington ferry steamer Duchess assisted, ' with-'all the craft'aVailable^t.Picton. :, The , Governor, acwmp,an^ie<l } by the ;Opuni(^ss:;r.attH vv>si^»fc^MM; from the I T^aijekai /shp^l^afl^;ifiud-day, i the i AmGkur a: firijig; '^hiV^fs^he left the j vessel. The;: Vic^|gaEparty was met \:by Ithe: ; Hpns; J^":MV&£ I&sher^ and F. [■H/^i'rß^^V-^^-'^^F^ .•■ :■ ■' ! I'Brbbeeding.iito;/; the;^ mpmunierit. Lord ! Liyerp^irddlivered an impressive arii dress, in which lie said they had come there to do honour to thetman whose -guiding -istar" through life was vriBwerying , zeal and undaunted perr eeveraiice. .;: There ihjad been many men in all ageS;; from all nations, who had cheerfully., .arid devotedly given their lives and best.yeare in the Bervice of exploration and science for the benfit of- thteiF fellow-men but what specially appealed to them to-day was the fact that James Cook belonged to the race of which all were so justly proud. Haying (traced tlie historical, deeds of tli^ great navigator. Lord/ Liverpool concluded by saying ; although many ; years had passed, we were endeavouring ■to | give full expression to our appreciation of the memory, not only of an intrepid navigator and explofner, but. a great and gallantißritiaher. ■.:.'.,-.■■'-,... Having concluded-iVhw main;; address, ■the; (xpverrio^pVcreatedv--a, rprpfoliind i'sen^ i sation by sreading^ a*wireless-meßSage :anhouhfiing ■tho' disasters;which had b4r fallen Gaptain. Scott,3 eoutliem party. Thei Croyernbr mad.e":a striking analogous allusion tci the~heroism 6i the Antarctic party and the deeds of the great"man to whose memory they were doing justice that. day. .

The Governor's speech was followed by remarks from Mr. John Duncan, who explained ithat the monuments on the mainland, and at Ship Cove, did not representithe completion of the memorial movement. That work, on which £250 had been expended) was to be succeeded by the erection of a consiberably larger monument at Motuara Island, in the vicinity, on which Captain Cook proclaimed .British sovereignty ovier the South Island.

Speeches were also made by the Hon. F. M.B. Fisher, (who. paid a handsome tribute to Mr. Robert McNab's active interest in the movement), and Messrs R. McCallum, M.P., and Robert McNab. A$ the tepeakera appealed strongly for support to enable the committee to accomplish the object at the | earliest possible^Sate. ' '■■ . '■ Subsequently about ai hundred official guests i wero entertained by the committee at luncheon. The Governor was presented with a framed photograph of ifae monuin^jit: st^l^7surmoim^fiy.«n old;ship*s anchor, and^ias atihe foot an* :6Tdcannori%f Captain Cook's time, Btippiied by the, British Admiralty. -~ -■ = ;.>, v rObnstracted of ferro concrete,: the , monumentTias on each side an inscnp^ tion setting out the dates and particu- j lar e of Captain Cook's five visits to the Cove, including a characteristic Maori address. ; *' ~ ■ .■ The Governor and party, will cnnse in the sounds till to-morrow morning, when the Tutanekai will steam to Pictori, where the • Governor willbe. officially welcomed. The Vice-regal party will then proceed W BlenheiM, where it will attend the Bea\s4ifyuig Society s garden fete.