The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1902. COOK NATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11741, 19 September 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1902. COOK NATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND.

Thk movement originated by the Gisborne "Times" for the erection of a memorial to Captain Cook is certainly one worthy of the favourable consideration of New Zealand colonists generally. It is a curious fact that some such permanent tribute to the great navigator has not yet been provided. Poverty Bay is the natural resting place for such a memorial, that being the first point visited by Captain Cook. It was on Friday, the 6th October, 1769, that Captain Cook first sighted New Zealand., and on the Sunday following that he anchored just off the entrance to the river on which Gisborne now stands. His attempts to enter into friendly relations with the natives, and the hostile reception he met, are too well known to need telling. He remained on%- a couple of days at this point*. "Thei next morning," be wrote in his journal, "Wednesday, 11th, at 6 o'clock, we weighed and stood away from this unfortunate and inhospitable place, to which I gave the name of Poverty Bay, and which by the natives is called xc Oneroa or Long Land, as it did not afford us a single article that we wanted, except a little wood." Today Poverty Bay, a fertile and prosperous district, has proved itself well worthy of a better name, and the people are ready to do honour to the memory of the gallant captain. As the Gisborne "Times" says: "Surely, if in tho rush and bustle of our busy lives we pause for a moment to reflect on what we as people of New Zealand owe to the courage, daring, and patience of that great sailor, the thought must come I home to us that it is a disgrace to the colony that no monument of any kind has ever been erected here to mark the site of his first landing in New Zealand, and as a mark of respect and admiration we have for the man to whom England owes one of the brightest, jewels in her crown. Visitors to Gisbome are always struck by the absence of such a memorial. The matter is ona of deep intei west and importance to the Empire as a, whole, and, seeing that there is no memorial to Captain Cook anywhere in New Zealand, w.e feel sure that the lead taken by Gisborne will enlist the fullest sympathy and support of the people of the colony and ■-c Homeland." The movement is meeting with widespread support from representative men in all parts of the colony. His Excellency the Governor says: "It gives me great pleasure to see that a movement is on hand to erect a memorial to Captain Cook to mark his first landing place in New Zealand. If we wish to inspire the rising generation with admiration for the great and heroic deeds of the men of the past, we> cannot afford Ho

leave unnoticed the name of Captain Cook, of whom every Englishman may jusjfcly be proud." His Lordship the Bishop of Waiapu writes: "The movement which has been inaugurated for the purpose of erecting a suitable monufent to mark the spot on which Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand is one in which I heartily sympathise. The featares of the scene of Cook's first contact with the natives have been completely obliterated by the works connected with the breakwater, but the landing place, which is evry clearly indicated by Captain Cook's journal, is as yet intact. This may not he the case a few years hence. I trust tthat the monument when erected will be one worthy of the object.—l remain, faithfully yours, W.L.. Waiapu." Sir W. Ri. Russell: "Cook was iv every essential a great Englishman and typical of his race. A man who by force of character rose to a glorious position in the history of Britain, and his fame will last as long as our rough island story is remembered. He lived before the epoch of the special correspondent and the daily press, or his fame would have been as wide as the world he explored." The Hon. James Carroll expresses the opinion that "the movement, should command universal support." These testimonies sipeak for themselves, but the object itself is one which on its merits alone should commend itself to every New ZeaJiander.