COOK STATUE READY BY END OF THIS YEAR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 150, 26 June 1931, Page 14

COOK STATUE READY BY END OF THIS YEAR.

The Captain Cook memorial statue, which is being sculptured by Mr W. E Trethewey, is now half completed. Since the work was begun six months ago steady progress has been maintained and by the end of the year it is expected that the statue will be ready for erection in Victoria Square. The upper half of the figure has been completed, with the exception of some finishing work. Already it can be seen that the statue will present a very fine appearance when the sculptor has added the final touches of his art. Fine Marble Block. 1 he block out of which the statue is being sculptured is of beautiful bluetinged hard marble from Italy. The original block weighed twelve tons borne of the difficulty in handling it can be gathered from the fact that it took three days to shift it from the roadway into the required place in the studio. _ When completed the statue will weigh seven tons. Sculpturing requires the greatest artistry, skill and knowledge of anatorny. _ Mr Trethewey first modelled a preliminary sketch in clay which was then covered with a series of marks placed on the salient parts of the body. W ith the aid of an ingenious instrument called a pointing machine, which has arms that that move in ball socket joints, with metal points at the. ends, the markings oil the plaster model were cast in plaster. The plaster model was transferred to the marble block. Few Tools Used. A pneumatic chiselling machine, an assortment of chisels and a mallet are the only tools used by the sculptor and his assistants. One assistant has been carving out the statue every day and the finishing work has been done by Mr Trethewey. Facial expression has oeen taken from a print of Captain Cook. The progress of the work is being keenly followed by many people. Almost every day there are callers at the studio. Even at the present stage critics have expressed admiration for the work.