NEW ZEALAND NAMES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 June 1925, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NAMES.

BOARD OF INQUIRY SET CP

MANY POINTS FOR. DECISION

New Zealand nomenclature is to be investigated by an honorary Geographical' Advisory Board, which has been set up under the direction of the Minister for 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 stated! that the board had been constituted as the result of representations made by public institutions and private individuals since 1915. The purposes for which it had been constituted included! examining and adopting 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 original Maori place names; investigate and decide upon any proposed alterations of a geographical name. The decisions of the board as regards the spelling of names would be adopted in the preparation of authoritative lists for unofficial use. Decisions in respect to the changing of a geographical name would he subject to the approval of the Minister and the provisions of the Designation of Districts Act, 1908. The letter concluded with an appeal to the section for any assistance which it might he able to give. Dr. P. H. 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 inquired into in a spasmodic sort of way.