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Published: February 12th 2007
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this was a the corner of "Clock Street" oriignal Abel Tasman first discovered New Zealand in 1642 on 13th December.
He was looking for the “Terra Australis Incognito”(Australia the Golden Island)
He found what is today is Golden Bay. He had a very hostile reception from the natives and shooting took place and people were killed. He named the Bay Murderous Bay and then retreated.
It wasn’t until 1769 the intrepid Captain Cook reached its shores, likewise he had a hostile reception, but with the help of a Maori interpreter and gifts he managed to land in the beginning of January 1770, as the Endeavour was sailing down the western coast, Mount Taranaki was sighted. Cook named it Mount Egmont, after the First Lord of the Admiralty.
On the 14th January, the Endeavour arrived at "a very broad and deep bay or inlet". The ship was in the South Island of New Zealand, and in this inlet a perfect anchorage was found at Ship Cove. Cook named the inlet Queen Charlotte's Sound, and took formal possession of this area. Friendly relations were established with the Māori, and trade for fish and fresh vegetables commenced. On 6th February the Endeavour made for Cook Strait, while surveying the coastline of the South
Island. By 13th March the most southern point of the South Island was rounded, and the Endeavour commenced coasting up along the west coast. A bay, which was passed as night fell, was given the name Dusky Bay.
The Endeavour left New Zealand on 31st March 1770, after having spent two days in Admiralty Bay refitting the ship. Cook had just chartered 2 400 miles of New Zealand coastline, in under 6 months.
Cook was to return to New Zealand on two further occasions, once in 1773 in command of the Resolution, accompanied by Tobias Furneaux in command of The Adventure, and again in 1777 in command of The Resolution, and with Charles Clerke in command of The Discovery
My arrival in N.Z. was as usual delayed by 2 hours re flights. I didn’t arrive until 1-50am pleased booked a motel close to airport. Spent the following morning doing boring things. Sorted out a car getting phone card etc.
Had frustrating time trying to get in touch with my friends I met in
Vietnam, by 1600 decided I needed to book accommodation out of Christchurch because of parking; traffic was awful like London took 45mins to do
10klms.
NZ. Decidedly colder than Australia, 15C that night after a glorious day.
Yet again my timing couldn’t have been worse it was NZ “Long Week End,” Tuesday being Waitangi Day
(Waitangi Day is a public holiday in New Zealand held each year on February 6 to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6 1840 in a marquee erected in the grounds of James Busby's house at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. A draft of the treaty had been presented to the local Māori chiefs the previous day and Governor William Hobson had returned to his ship, HMS Herald, anchored in the bay, expecting the Māori to discuss the treaty for a day and possibly sign it on the morning of February 7. However, Māori had debated signing the treaty later into the night and appeared to have presumed the treaty would be signed in the morning of February 6 and did not have enough food to wait another day. Hobson was called ashore to sign the treaty just after noon, still dressed in his civilian clothes and only carried his
uniform hat.)
So that weekend everyone is looking for accommodation, I was lucky to get what I did the last room.
The following day 2nd Feb I ventured into Christchurch, found a long term car park and started to explore, strolled to Cathedral Square .as you would expect dominated by the Cathedral, a small tourist market and the main visitors centre. They are really geared up to promote Christchurch I have never seen so many brochures covering the whole spectrum of activities, very much for gung-ho action man with a very fat wallet. More sedate activities also like the talking tram tour around the City, well should have been talking but the mic was broken the driver did her best but was somewhat disappointing compared to Melbourne and Bendigo.
The thing that did really attracted my attention was as in Hyde Park London they have a speakers corner where you put your point of view on any topic ,wether you get anybody to listen is another matter. The day I was there a bloke was talking about Jesus and we are all sinners etc. Later on there was another weirdo, I am not really sure what
point of view or tirade he was trying to convey but he was going on about being anti establishment during his up bringing in the U.K. I not sure why he was in Christchurch that remains a mystery but he was very passionate in his delivery but it got boring. also just like an English summer it started to “p……s’ down so retreated by chance to the “Holy Grail” this turned out to be the Headquarters of the Christchurch Crusaders Rugby Team
Some of you may not be aware that New Zealand’s religion is Rugby and the season started today the Crusaders were to play the Auckland Blues. This is the North Island v South Island derby .the Aussies have a radio station devoted to horse racing the Kiwis have one for Rugby.
A very busy place met some Irish people just arrived on their honeymoon and long chat.
I then returned to the Marina Bar and Backpackers at Sumner .It was full to the gills in the bar big screen TV for the rugby 2 TV’s for horse racing and 2 for the one day cricket match OZ v England and to top it a live band belting
0006 soppy dog
came aboard the tram and perfomed tricks out 400 decibels so watching the games going deaf. Decided to go and eat .On my return different band now going at 600decibels with the singer speaking gibberish but managed to hold out to see England at last put the boot in and defeat the Aussies by 92 runs
Phileas
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