STREET NAMES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 10, 6 October 1927, Page 12

STREET NAMES

Sir,—l have read' the contributed article on Street Names appearing in j-our issue of to-day, and thank you m anticipation of publishing a correction. Buller Street in this city was not named after Sir Walter Buller, but after Mr. Charles Buller, one-time M.P. for Liskeord Mid (Governor of the New Zealand

Company. Sir Walter Buller, whose father was the Rev. James Buller, a Wesleyan clergyman, was no connection of Mr. Charles'Buller, and, in fact, he comes into the picture years after Buller Street was named. The Buller River was also named after Mr. Charles Buller by Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Fox in 1846, and there is a Buller Street in Picton named after the same man. As a matter of fact, I have read repeatedly in different papers that the Buller River is named after Sir Walter Buller, and I have no doubt that the error is widespread. Your article is interesting and valuable, and of course is correct in the main. I am satisfied, however, that it contains one error.—l am, etc., P. J. O’REGAN. Wellington, October 1. Sir,—l was extremely interested to read in this morning's Dominion the list of Wellington’s streets and an accompanying expla ration as to the origin of the names. It has occurred to me that you have overlooked mentioning Borlase Street (certainly a most inconspicuous street, almost a by-way), but nevertheless representing, if somewhat humbly, one of the oldest and most respected familiea iu this country. From records in the possession of the present head of the family—a grandson, residing in Wellington—l have gleaned that Charles Bonythou Borlase arrived in New Zealand in the year 1848, taking up land in the Wairarapa Valley, but shortly afterwards removing to Wellington, where he commenced the practice of his profession. He was elected to the Provincial Council here in 1857, and became provincial solicitor, which position he held until his death in 1875. In 1866 he was elected to the House of Representatives, and during 1873-1874 was Mayor of Wellington. As this substitutes'a fine public record I’ve often wondered that the name was not perpetuated, as most of the others have been, in a more pretentious street. Surely the oldest and finest names used in the early service of New Zealand deserve this honour.—l am, etc., “EARLY SETTLER." Wellington, September 30.