Hocken. — Earliest Literature relating to N.Z. 631 



that much extra matter, and some of it of value, is to be 

 found in those compilations of the voyages which appeared 

 soon after the publication of the original, in the numerous 

 collections of voyages issued towards the close of the last and 

 the beginning of this century ; such, for instance, as Portlock's 

 and Anderson's. The compilers interviewed many of Cook's 

 companions, and thus procured some extra details. The 

 British Museum contains a large number of manuscripts, 

 drawings, charts, and other unpublished collections relating 

 to Cook's voyages, which are of great interest and should be 

 brought into the light of day. I have a list of perhaps thirty 

 of these. Here, again, is an opportunity of conferring a great 

 service open to any one possessed of wealth and patriotic 

 spirit. The Museum authorities would gladly grant permission 

 to any person desirous of placing these in an available form. 



Fifteen years ago — in 1879— occurred the centenary of 

 Cook's death, and this was commemorated at Paris in a very 

 distinguished way by the Societe de Geographie. The members 

 of this great society held a seance, at which many eminent per- 

 sons assisted. Orations were delivered, eloquently referring 

 to Cook and his labours, to Dalrymple, and to Hawkesworth, 

 and reviewing our rapidly-increasing knowledge of Oceania. 

 There was also exhibited an extensive collection of articles 

 which had belonged to Cook or were personal to him, his manu- 

 scripts and those of his companions, of old drawings, and of 

 curiosities from the South Seas, lent by the British Admiralty, 

 Lady Brassey, and many other persons, all proud to aid so 

 great a celebration. A full account of these proceedings was 

 issued by the Society in a bulletin, together with a very ex- 

 cellent cartography and bibliography, the whole forming a 

 very valuable, but little known, contribution to the literature 

 of the subject. In reading this, one feels not only pleasure, 

 but also a warm sense of gratitude towards the French nation 

 in thus doing honour to our great countryman. But, indeed, 

 Cook, like Shakespeare, belongs to all nations. To the 

 French we are also indebted for early literature relating to 

 New Zealand. At the very moment, in 1769, when Cook was 

 sailing down the west coast of the North Island in the "En- 

 deavour," Captain De Surville was on the east coast in the 

 " St. Jean Baptiste," each unaware of the other's vicinity, 

 and separated by but a few miles. The history of De Sur- 

 ville's visit to New Zealand is very interesting. His vessel 

 was chartered to trade to various islands in the Indian seas, 

 and with this view was being fitted out in the French settle- 

 ment of Pondicherry. At this moment astounding news was 

 suddenly circulated that the English had discovered a wonder- 

 ful island somewhere in the South Seas, which not only 

 abounded in gold and other riches, but also contained a 



