THE NAMING OF DUNEDIN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 November 1924, Page 7

THE NAMING OF DUNEDIN.

OLD CELTIC APPELLATION. _ explanation of the naming of Dunedin. Jigs been given in United Empire by Mr. H. K- Rutherford. He refens to the “township” of Dunedin, but from the contents it is clear that he means the capital city of Otago. Mr. Rutherford quotes the following passage from Chambers’ Journal of January, 1882, in which Mr W. Gharnbers, the editor and publisher, in recording his reminiscence® of events from .1832 to 1882, refer® as follows to the circumstances which led to the selection of the name:—'“Having written a number of articles on the subject of emigration, I felt considerable interest, in the operations of the New Zealand Land Company, which proposed to colonise New Zealand on a plan somewhat resembling the New England Settlements in the 17th century ; one settlement to be for member® of ; tlie Church of England, another for Presbyterians, and so on. While on a visit to London I procured some information on the subject from Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield, a- loading spirit in the company’s affairs. In the district set aside for the reception of Scottish settlers it was arranged that, the name of the chief town was, by wav of attractiveness, to be New Edinburgh. It was no business of mine what 'they called the town ; but without damage to the plan I thought an improvement might be suggested, which I did as follows, in a- letter to the editor of the New Zealand journal published in London, November II th 1543 :

“ ‘lf not finally resolved upon, I would strongly recommend a. reconsideration of the name New Edinburgh, and the adoption of another infinitely superior, and yet equally, allied to “Old Edinburgh.’’ I mean the assumption of the name Dunedin, which is -the lan.oient Celtic appellation of. Edinburgh, and is now occasionally applied in poetic composition and otherwise to the Northern Metropolis. I would at all events hope that the names of places with the prefix “New” should he sparingly had recourse to. The “News” in North America are an abomination which it liae lately been proposed to sweep 1 .out of the country. It will be matter for regret if the New , Zealand Company help to carry the nuisance to the territory with which it is concerned.’ “The letter bore my signature—for I have made a point of never writing an anonymous letter—and the hint was taken. The name New Edinburgh was changed to Dunedin, which it now bears. In September, 1880, T received a complimentary letter from the Municipal Council of Dunedin which bore an interesting reference to the circumstances.”