SOUTHERN CONTINENT A MYTH: COOK’S TOUR HITS THEORY FOR SIX

Korero (AEWS), Volume 2, Issue 14, 17 July 1944, Page 16

SOUTHERN CONTINENT A MYTH: COOK’S TOUR HITS THEORY FOR SIX

I The Great Southern Continent, thesis of continental theorists since the voyagings of Dutchman Abel J. (for Janzoon) Tasman, does not exist. Captain James Cook, modernl day explorer, navigator, surveyor, and physician, has brought his ship, “Resolution,” safely back to England. And, an Admiralty spokesman made plain yesterday, Captain Cook, after two voyages of hemisphere traverse, does not believe possible the existence of a large landmass within the reach of navigation and still undiscovered. However, Captain Cook has left British colours flying on several previously unknown islands likely to be of great value in this country’s plan of an empire far-flung and prosperous. A pointer to this was seen yesterday on the Stock Exchange when overseas stock bounced several points higher with the release of the news. Main discoveries of this voyage include New Caledonia, largest island in the south Pacific except New Zealand (alternative spellings: Nova Zeelandia, Nieuw Zeeland) ; an island named Georgia; and a coast still unexplored named Sandwich Land.