Cook Memorial

Forum And Aginum

With the bi-centenary of Captain Cook's first landing in New Zealand looming over them (October 9, 1969), Gisborne local bodies and citizens have been concerning themselves with the form of a memorial to mark the event. Obviously something must be done, and that something must be on a scale commensurate with the occasion. And this will require, among other things, time, talent, effort, enthusiasm, and a great deal of money.

So far the thinking on the subject has reached a point where location, if nothing else, appears to have met with reasonable unanimity. The chosen site is Kaiti Hill, overlooking the city, the harbour, and the spot where Cook actually landed. The three proposals so far made for this location have been:

(1) From Dr Roger Duff, director of the Canterbury Museum: a Cook museum on the hill.

(2) From Mr A. B. C. Steele, chairman of the local Power Board: a comprehensive scheme for development of the hill, with a memorial to Captain Cook as its central theme. (This proposal has been adopted in principle by a meeting of chairmen of local bodies as the most appropriate).

(3) From Mr Donald Miller, a local design consultant: a 200ft tower, surmounting the 400ft hill, rising from eight halls, with an observation lift in the tower. (Illustrated on this page).

Mr Steele suggested, among other things, the erection of a statue of Captain Cook on top of a tower, surmounting a room holding a display of Maori artifacts, planting of shrubs in nearby areas, etc. It is understood the proposal from Dr Duff was for a museum building.

No hard estimates of cost have been provided. It is thought Mr Miller's proposal would cost about £200,000 or more.

Time Running Out

If Gisborne is going to do this job properly then time is already running out, with not much more then three years to go. Assuming a concept along the lines suggested by Mr Miller, these things are for consideration:

1. Unification of district behind the project.

2. United approach to Government for backing and indication of financial assistance.

3. Scope and cost of memorial to be decided.

4. Possible competition for best design within cost structure.

5. Campaign to engender interest and enthusiasm of district.

6. Comprehensive programme of celebrations to be drawn up.

7. Setting up committees to raise finance and carry the whole project to a successful conclusion.

A Public Job

The ultimate success of the celebrations and the memorial proposal depends to a very large extent on the interest and support of the public of Gisborne and district, and it is not too soon to harness early enthusiasts.

The next step, therefore, would seem to be the calling of a public meeting to decide what kind of wheel we want to put our shoulders to.