LAKE ROTOKARE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 April 1928, Page 12

LAKE ROTOKARE.

THE NAME! DUPLICATED. Correspondence, passing between the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. Armit) and the Mayor of Eltharn in reference to setting up a board of control to preserve the scenic beauty of Lake Botokare has disclosed the fact that the name of this lake is. duplicated in Taranaki, there being a small lake near New Plymouth similarly named.

in his last communication to the 'Major, Mr. Armit states, inter alia, in regard to the sheet of water near Alt ham: “I have been, looking into the question of names, and find that as ,ar back as 1887 there is a record of the lake being known as Lake Botokare. There is no doubt this is the old Maori name adopted by the earlier settlers. At this stage it would not be" possible to change the name without the concurrence of the Geographic Board in Wellington, which meets under the chairmanship of the SurveyorGeneral. Of course, the lake name ecu id continue and the name of the reserve be altered, but- this would hardly meet your intention of a complete change of name. The only way to approach the matter is to have the name of the lake altered, and the name of ‘hr; reserve would follow the change. Can you furnish any remarks regarding tlie proposed adoption of the name i ” Whitiroa”: I would suggest that 1 the Domain Board, when oormed, take die matter up with the Geographic Board in Wellington, either directly or through the medium of the chief surveyor of this district.” It «say be mentioned that Mr. Bridger, on learning of the duplication, suggested that the Eltharn Jake and reserve should be re-named ‘AYhitivoa,” as being a more euphonious name •ind applicable to. the locality—Rawhiti■•oa.

4t a meeting held in lvitham on MonJay evening, when a board of control was formed, it was resolved that, under the circumstances, the name of the lake at New Plymouth, known as Roto.caie, should be changed, and that the name of the original Lake Rotokare should remain unaltered.