Issue No. 9, December 2001
Latest News
I, for one, am very pleased with the change. The origin of the name recognises that the Group was started by American philatelists who collected Captain Cook stamps and other philatelic material. They affiliated with the American Topical Association and the term "study unit" was common for subgroups within that organisation. I believe the society has long outgrown the stamp focus and caters for people interested in Cook for a whole range of reasons. On many occasions when trying to recruit new members, I have needed to explain the study unit part of the title whereas the new title, the Captain Cook Society, should be self-explanatory.
On a related matter, has the time arrived when we can attempt to produce a more serious journal about Cook? Cook's log has started to feature longer, more serious articles of late and the Society now has members around the world undertaking research about Cook and related subjects who could contribute. Here in New Zealand, Bill Whelen's work on William Wales and Tony Houghton-Brown's work on the Wilkinson connection spring to mind. Papers from the September 2002 Cook Conference would also be possible.
The new journal would need only appear once a year but would help enhance the status of the Society. Perhaps a joint publication with a reputed publisher could be arranged? Cook's log would continue its excellent and essential job reproducing most of what it prints already - the news, reviews, new members, etc.
The BBC began filming their series in Queensland in late 2001. The crews have now returned to the UK where further work is underway
The Natural History NZ series is still in its research stage and awaiting decisions about funding and going ahead.
Forthcoming or recently published books
Review by John Robson of
Cobeldick, Trevor. Cook voyage place names of New Zealand. Wellington:
Paerangi Books, 2001. 0908965036.
Trevor Cobeldick has produced an excellent book covering the legacy of Cook's
visits to New Zealand. After studying all the charts and journals (which Cobeldick lists
here) produced on the voyages, Cobeldick has compiled lists of all the names used by
Cook and his colleagues. For every name, he records its exact location, how and when it
was used, and shows spelling variants, etc.
In the second half of the book, Cobeldick proceeds to discuss several interesting factors relating to the names; how Cook heard and used Maori names and words for example. He discusses matters such as Cannibal's Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound and how the name is applied on different maps to different coves, Also, he discusses whether Gores Bay, north of Christchurch, is currently applied to the indent on the coast intended by Cook.
The author has informed me that there are a couple of typographical errors but they do do not detract from what is a very worthwhile book and a welcome addition to the Cook library. It can be obtained for NZ$18.00 from PO Box 13320 Wellington.
Review by John Robson of
Captain's log: charting New Zealand's maritime heritage Videotape. Auckland:
Livingstone Productions and Television New Zealand, 2001. F09306
This is a videotape release of a television series that aired in New Zealand in October
and November 2001. The companies are to be congratulated on releasing the video so
quickly.
The series attempted to show, in four 45 minute programs, the maritime history of New Zealand. To do this, the producers had the interesting idea of following Cook's voyage around New Zealand in 1769-1770 using a veritable armada of ships and boats of all shapes and sizes. An actor, Peter Elliott, travels around, stopping at places associated with James Cook and talking to people about Cook and maritime matters, before jumping on another vessel to continue his journey.
As a maritime history of New Zealand, the program fails. Given the structure of the program, it can only serve as an introduction and even there it is not very good. Few, if any, of the ships are given much time so there is little or no time to show their role in the larger picture. Much is omitted (shipwrecks, lighthouses, immigrant ships, shipbuilding, fighting ships, waka, etc are either glossed over or not dealt with) and there is no clear chronological order to things. Anyone wanting to learn more about this history would do far better to obtain a copy of the companion book, written by Gavin MacLean, also called Captain's log.
For people interested in Cook, the series is far more rewarding if still not perfect. Captain Cook features far more than early indications from the producers led me to believe in 2002. From those discussions, I expected that Cook would only serve as a background feature, while his voyage would provide the pretext on which other subjects would be developed. However, Cook features prominently and reasonably sympathetically throughout. Some of the narration, especially around Poverty Bay, is somewhat emotive but most of the people interviewed are positive about Cook. The storyline follows very closely the route and events of Cook's voyage and the producers were able to film in many places not easily accessible to most people. The watering place in Mercury Bay, Cook's Bay near Tolaga and Dusky Sound are some of the beautiful and evocative places shown. Many of the problems involved in sailing in New Zealand waters,gales, heavy seas, etc especially up and down the west coast are depicted.
The subjects attempted are large ones and, in only 180 minutes, the video cannot hope to cover both of them adequately. It only serves as an introduction to Cook's time in New Zealand leaving an opening for a better, more detailed television series to be made in the future. Let us hope it is sooner rather than later.
Interesting homepages with Cook connections.
NZ CCS news.
While there have been some enquiries about the society, no new members have joined recently. As noboby has resigned either we have the same number of members.
Please feel free to contribute to this newsletter and send articles, letters, news, etc for inclusion in future editions. Back issues may be seen at NZ James Cook Journal. Perhaps people would like to introduce themselves and give details about their interest in Cook.
23 December 2001
John Robson
232 b Old Farm Road, Hamilton
home ph 07-856-4807 jcr@quicksilver.net.nz
work ph 07-856-2889 x 6522 j.robson@waikato.ac.nz