PRIZE ESSAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 563, 5 November 1902, Page 1

PRIZE ESSAYS.

(Second prize in Standard-IV., awarded to Cecil Steele of tho Gisborno School) Captain Cook was born in Yorkshire, in England, in tho year 1723, his father was a farm laborer, and when James was old enough ho went to work in a drapery shop. When ho was twenty ho had a strong desire to be a sailor. He first started on a coal boat, and after being on several different boats he found himself in a high position. In tho year 1768 an expedition left England for tho Pacific Islands, Captain Cook being made head of it. It was in this expedition I joined tho boat. Well, wo left England in tho year 1768 for tbo Pacific Islunds, the trip being a very rough one. After being thero some time wo sailed for tho continent of Australia, bringing with us a native off the Islands." Tho captain decided to explore tho Pacific east of Australia after loaving Sydney. On October the Bth, 1709, we found ourselves sailing into-a deep bay, and anchoring off a small river it was decided to go ashore, two boats being used for this purpose. The landing was mado on tho eastern sido of tho river, but the Maoris proved to bo very wild, so tho nativo off the other island had an interview with tho Maoris, ho being the only ono on board that could talk Maori, but it was of no use trying to make friends for they would not. So wo returned to tho boat and were obliged to sail South, naming tho place Poverty Bay as wo went. Wo sailed down tho Coast as far as Capo Turnagain, here wo luct bad weather and had to return. Passing Poverty Bay we came to an anchorage at a bay now known as Tolago. The Maoris proved to bo more friendly here, and with a lieutenant and a few marines we were able to get food and water which we could not obtain at Poverty Bay. After an eight days’ stay wo sailed further north. Rounding Capo Runaway the Maoris chased us in their canoes, but were kept off by the guns fired from our ship. Wo coni inued our journoy to Mercury Bay, whero wo took possession of New Zealand. Then sailing South we discovered Cook Strait, and left Cape Farewell for Australia. Wo arrived there after nineteen days journey and discovered Botany Bay. Here we loaded the boat with many things the Maoris did not have and made a second voyage to New Zealand. Time went on and we made five visits between Australia and New Zealand, the last one 'being in 1777, in that year I left tho boat, I beard afterwards that the famous Captain had been killed two years later at the Hawaiian Islands, now known as the Sandwich Isles, ten years after his first voyage of discovery.