Statue of Unknown Person

A plaque below the statue reads:
-------------------------------
This statue was placed here at the time of the bicentenary of the landing of Lieut. James Cook and the men of the Endeavour in Poverty Bay in 1769 - the first known landing of Europeans in New Zealand. It was cast in bronze from an original marble statue which had been purchased in Italy in the late 19th century by Moss Davis, the owner of the Captain Cook brewery in Auckland.

In the belief that it was the replica of James Cook it was gifted to the city and a twin bronze was placed on the brewery in Khyber Pass, Auckland, despite protests by those who recognised tht the uniform was not that of the British navy and the facial features bore little resemblance to Cook.

Since October 1969 the statue has been a source of delight for photographers and a source of embarrassment for historians.

Who was he ? We have no idea !

-------------------------------

This elevated location is a great place from which to study the layout of Poverty Bay, Gisborne city and environs.

Categories: statue