PLACE NAMES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18398, 3 June 1925, Page 13

PLACE NAMES.

BOARD OF REVISION. (sriCUL TO "TDK PRESS.") AUCKLAND, June 2. New Zealand nomenclature is to be investigated by an honorary Geographical Advisory Board, which has been set lip under direction of the Minister of Lands.- This, information was contained in a letter to the chairman of the Anthropological Section of the Auckland Institute and Museum from the Chief Surveyor for North Auckland, Mr H. J. Lowe. The letter, which was read at the annual meeting of the Section last evening, stated that the.Board had been constituted as a result of representations made by public institutions and private individuals since 3915, The purposes for which it had been constituted included the examining and adopting of rules for the spelling of geographical names in the Dominion, and examining doubtful cases of spelling and nomenclature. The Board would also consider the substitution of British for alien names. It would collect the original Maori place names, and investigate and decide upon any proposed alterations of geographical names. The decisions of the Board as regards the spelling of names would be adopted in preparation of authoritative lists for unofficial use. The decisions in respect to the changing of the geographical name would be subject to the approval of the Minister, under tho provisions of tho Designation of Districts Act, ]<>oS. The letter concluded with an appeal to the Section for any assistance wfcieh it might be able to pive. Dr. Buck said the recording of Maori place names and the history which gave rise to them should have been undertaken long ago. He understood it had been enquired into in a spasmodic sort of way, and he thought the Section could be.of assistance to the newlyformed Board. It was decided to write asking for further information regarding the Board, with a view of rendering what assistance was possible.