FOUNDER OF AUCKLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 31 August 1935, Page 8

FOUNDER OF AUCKLAND

CAPTAIN HOBSON’S LANDING OBELISK TO MARK SPOT ( Ter Pitsg Association. J AUCKLAND. Aug. 2S, A gesture of great historical inter est to the Dominion as well as Auckland has been made by Mr Ernest Davis, Alayor of Auckland, who wiE have erected at his own expense a monument marking the place where Captain William Hobson, R.N., first Lieut.-Governor of New Zealand, landed at. Auckland. The monument, an obeli»k of granite from Waterloo Bridge, Loudon, now being demolished, will be erected at the eastern ejid of Orakei Bay. The Alayor reported the proposal to the City Council to-night. Captain Hobson rejected the Bar of Islands as a capital and founded Auckland in September, 1840. His death occurred two years later, and he was buried in a humble grave in Grafton Gully. Through cabled inquiries in which the High Commissioner, Sir James Parr, has been concerned, the Mayor has under offer a sufficient quantity of granite from Waterloo Bridge. “Captain Hobson must have crossed the bridge frequently during his lifetime.’’ stated the Mayor. The obelisk will bo twenty feet high and will be placed on a spot indicated by two aged Maoris at tho Orakei settlement as the authentic landing place. These Maoris, Pehiru Peoro and Mat eno Ta atari, died two rears ago. The remnants of thp Ngati Wliatua tribe which occupied Auckland at the time of Captain Hobson’s arrival, norr I'n e nt Orakei.