Cook Statue, Christchurch
Encyclopedia
The Cook Statue in Victoria Square, Christchurch
, commemorates the three journeys of James Cook
to New Zealand. The statue, sculpted by William Trethewey
, was unveiled on 10 August 1932 by the Governor-General
, Lord Bledisloe
. It was donated by bookmaker
and philanthropist Matthew Barnett
(1861–1935).
, temperance and anti-betting were strong movements, and gaming houses were banned, which included betting shops. Bookmakers responded to the situation by giving themselves titles like 'commission agents' and 'turf accountants'. At first, it was left to District and City Councils to pass by-laws, but eventually Parliament
passed the Gaming Act in 1908, which imposed tight restrictions. A 1910 amendment to the Act banned bookmaking altogether.
Although wealthy, Barnett was not part of the high society, as he operated outside of what was socially acceptable by the upper class.
In 1928, Barnett funded an architectural competition for a statue commemorating the three journeys of James Cook
to New Zealand. William Trethewey
(1892–1956) won this competition and was chosen as the sculptor; this was his biggest commission in his career so far. A 12 ton block of Carrara
marble was imported for this work. This commission brought Trethewey much publicity, including coverage on Movietone News.
At first, a grass plot on the north bank of the Avon River in Victoria Square, outside the Limes Hospital (84 Kilmore Street) was considered for the statue. The site of the Limes Hospital and the river bank is these days occupied by the Christchurch Town Hall
, with the Limes Room commemorating the former hospital. But by late 1929, Barnett favoured a location on the corner of Armagh and Colombo Street
s, in the south-east corner of Victoria Square. In submitting to the Captain Cook Memorial Committee, a subcommittee of the Christchurch City Council
's Parks Committee, Barnett argued that the statue would be visible from all directions in that location, and from Colombo Street, one could see it as far away from the south as Gloucester Street. This location is where the statue was originally placed. Barnett lived only three blocks north from Victoria Square in Wharetiki House
at 854 Colombo Street.
Initially, Barnett gave £500 towards the necessary funds of the statue, with the rest of the funding to come from public subscription. But sometime later, he decided to fund the memorial fully, and gave an additional bond of £1,500 or "as much more or less as might be required" for the memorial.
Daniel Giles Sullivan
, the Mayor of Christchurch
and Member of Parliament representing the Avon electorate
, was tasked with inviting the Governor-General
, Lord Bledisloe
to the unveiling ceremony. This was successful, and the Cook Statue was unveiled on 10 August 1932 by Lord Bledisloe. In his speech, the Governor-General referred to early New Zealand history:
The mayor, a Labour
MP, spoke next. He made reference to the humble beginnings of Cook as the son of a labourer, and having first been a common seaman. Sullivan spoke of the special interest that he has for the working class. Barnett then addressed the audience and made reference to the tough economic conditions, with New Zealand being affected by the Great Depression
and many people suffering much distress. He explained that he made the gift of the statue three years ago when times had been much better. To that end, he presented the mayor with a cheque over 100 guineas
for the Mayor's Fund.
The Cook Statue has two plaques. One lists Cook's journeys:
The inscription on the second plaque reads: "Oceani investigator accerimus"
Barnett's wife Mary had died in 1931, before the statue was unveiled. Matthew Barnett died in January 1935, just over two years after unveiling of the statue. There are white marble chippings scattered on their grave, which are remnants from the production of the Cook Statue.
. It was registered on 26 November 1981 with registration number 1860. The statue is significant as an example of Trethewey's work, as one of the many memorials to Cook in New Zealand, and as a landmark in Victoria Square.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, commemorates the three journeys of James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
to New Zealand. The statue, sculpted by William Trethewey
William Trethewey
William Thomas Trethewey was a sculptor and monumental mason from Christchurch, New Zealand. His best known work is the Citizens' War Memorial in Cathedral Square, where Christchurch's annual Anzac Day service is held....
, was unveiled on 10 August 1932 by the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
, Lord Bledisloe
Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe
-External links:*...
. It was donated by bookmaker
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
and philanthropist Matthew Barnett
Matthew Barnett (bookmaker)
Matthew Frank Barnett , also known as Mat Barnett, was a bookmaker and philanthropist from Christchurch, New Zealand. In his retirement, he became well known in lawn bowls. He donated the statue of James Cook in Victoria Square to the city...
(1861–1935).
History
Matthew Barnett had become wealthy through his bookmaking business, which he conducted with his business partner Peter Grant. The 1890s in New Zealand, when the business flourished, need to be seen in the then climate of moral and social change in New Zealand. Women's suffrageWomen's suffrage in New Zealand
Women's suffrage in New Zealand was an important political issue in the late 19th century. Of countries presently independent, New Zealand was the first to give women the vote in modern times....
, temperance and anti-betting were strong movements, and gaming houses were banned, which included betting shops. Bookmakers responded to the situation by giving themselves titles like 'commission agents' and 'turf accountants'. At first, it was left to District and City Councils to pass by-laws, but eventually Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
passed the Gaming Act in 1908, which imposed tight restrictions. A 1910 amendment to the Act banned bookmaking altogether.
Although wealthy, Barnett was not part of the high society, as he operated outside of what was socially acceptable by the upper class.
In 1928, Barnett funded an architectural competition for a statue commemorating the three journeys of James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
to New Zealand. William Trethewey
William Trethewey
William Thomas Trethewey was a sculptor and monumental mason from Christchurch, New Zealand. His best known work is the Citizens' War Memorial in Cathedral Square, where Christchurch's annual Anzac Day service is held....
(1892–1956) won this competition and was chosen as the sculptor; this was his biggest commission in his career so far. A 12 ton block of Carrara
Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
marble was imported for this work. This commission brought Trethewey much publicity, including coverage on Movietone News.
At first, a grass plot on the north bank of the Avon River in Victoria Square, outside the Limes Hospital (84 Kilmore Street) was considered for the statue. The site of the Limes Hospital and the river bank is these days occupied by the Christchurch Town Hall
Christchurch Town Hall
The Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the...
, with the Limes Room commemorating the former hospital. But by late 1929, Barnett favoured a location on the corner of Armagh and Colombo Street
Colombo Street
Colombo Street is a main road of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It runs south-north through the centre of Christchurch with a break at Cathedral Square. As with many other central Christchurch streets, it is named for a colonial Anglican bishopric, Colombo, in what at the time was known as...
s, in the south-east corner of Victoria Square. In submitting to the Captain Cook Memorial Committee, a subcommittee of the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
's Parks Committee, Barnett argued that the statue would be visible from all directions in that location, and from Colombo Street, one could see it as far away from the south as Gloucester Street. This location is where the statue was originally placed. Barnett lived only three blocks north from Victoria Square in Wharetiki House
Wharetiki House
Wharetiki, for some time known as Glenfell House, was an Edwardian timber dwelling in Colombo Street, Christchurch in New Zealand. Built in 1904 for businessman and philanthropist Matthew Barnett, it was damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake...
at 854 Colombo Street.
Initially, Barnett gave £500 towards the necessary funds of the statue, with the rest of the funding to come from public subscription. But sometime later, he decided to fund the memorial fully, and gave an additional bond of £1,500 or "as much more or less as might be required" for the memorial.
Daniel Giles Sullivan
Daniel Giles Sullivan
Daniel Giles "Dan" Sullivan was a New Zealand Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Mayor of Christchurch.-Early years:...
, the Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
and Member of Parliament representing the Avon electorate
Avon (New Zealand electorate)
Avon is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.-Population centres:The electorate is in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand, based on the suburb of Avonside.-History:...
, was tasked with inviting the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
, Lord Bledisloe
Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe
-External links:*...
to the unveiling ceremony. This was successful, and the Cook Statue was unveiled on 10 August 1932 by Lord Bledisloe. In his speech, the Governor-General referred to early New Zealand history:
In the early history of New Zealand there are three outstanding landmarks—its effective discovery by James Cook, then a lieutenant in the Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, in 1769; its Christianisation, commencing with the arrival of Samuel MarsdenSamuel MarsdenSamuel Marsden was an English born Anglican cleric and a prominent member of the Church Missionary Society, believed to have introduced Christianity to New Zealand...
in 1814; and its inclusion in the British EmpireBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
under the Treaty of WaitangiTreaty of WaitangiThe Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
in 1840. But for the first, the second would have been improbable and the third impossible.
The mayor, a Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
MP, spoke next. He made reference to the humble beginnings of Cook as the son of a labourer, and having first been a common seaman. Sullivan spoke of the special interest that he has for the working class. Barnett then addressed the audience and made reference to the tough economic conditions, with New Zealand being affected by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and many people suffering much distress. He explained that he made the gift of the statue three years ago when times had been much better. To that end, he presented the mayor with a cheque over 100 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
for the Mayor's Fund.
The Cook Statue has two plaques. One lists Cook's journeys:
James Cook, Captain, Royal Navy, circumnavigator who first hoisted the British flag in New Zealand and explored
her seas and coasts, 1769–70, 1773–4, 1777
The inscription on the second plaque reads: "Oceani investigator accerimus"
Barnett's wife Mary had died in 1931, before the statue was unveiled. Matthew Barnett died in January 1935, just over two years after unveiling of the statue. There are white marble chippings scattered on their grave, which are remnants from the production of the Cook Statue.
Relocation
In 1989, Victoria Square underwent considerable change. Victoria Street, which previously bisected the Square, was terminated at Kilmore Street, and the Crowne Plaza Hotel was built in the north-west corner of Victoria Square across the previous road. The Square itself got a new landscape design and in this process, the Cook Statue was relocated to its current more central position.Heritage registration
The Cook Statue is registered as a Category II heritage item by the New Zealand Historic Places TrustNew Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
. It was registered on 26 November 1981 with registration number 1860. The statue is significant as an example of Trethewey's work, as one of the many memorials to Cook in New Zealand, and as a landmark in Victoria Square.