CHANGED NAME DEPLORED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16578, 29 June 1917, Page 4

CHANGED NAME DEPLORED.

AUCKLAND'S EARLY HISTORY. ' i JERMYN STREET ASSOCIATIONS. ' Tiiib City Council's decision to change , the name of Jermyn Street to Anzac j Avenue was tlio subject of a letter re- > ! ceivod at last night's meeting of the i council from Mr. 11. Symous, who asked ' that tho matter might he, reconsidered, j "Jormyn," ho said, was a name associated with the early history of tho city. { In changing it a concession was being ] made to persons who mispronounced it 1 a s "German." If such changes were to bo made every few years tho city would . gradually lose much interesting connection j with the past. The writer enclosed a , communication on the subject from Dr. ' W. 0. Scott, of Onehunga. ' "Two brothers, Captain William Cornwallis Symonds, and Captain John Jermyn ' Symonds, were," said Dr. Scott, "connected with the early history of Auck- ! land. Jernivn Street, named after the latter* and Symonds Street, after the for- ] ! mer, was the ridgo road from tho beach ■ "at Mechanics' Bay to tho top of , ' the city. Captain W. C. Symonds, ' surveyor in the Navy, laid out tho streets of tho infant city. His plan was, however considerably altered. Ho also laid out Cornwallis as a township on the Manukau. Symonds Street and Cornwallis were both named after him. Captain J. J Symonds built his houso on tho cliff overlooking Mechanics' Bay. This was, I believe, the first houso built in Jermyn i Street, and was referred to as "the houso that. Jack built." Captain Symonds was, , however, called by bis second name and the street, was named after him, Jermvn Street. It would be fitting that tho Jennyn Street end of the thoroughfare, Symonds Street-Jormyn Street, should retain its distinctive name, as Captain J. ' Jermyn Symonds filled many parts in the early history of Auckland, amongst others: Secretary to Sir George Grey, during his term walking to Wellington, via Taupo, through the lands of natives whose friendliness was not to be depended on, to carry Government despatches; 6taff office'.- of pensioners settled at Onehunga 83 a military guard : stipendiary magistrate of the Kaipara district; member of the Auckland Provincial Council; Judge Of the Native Land Court." The letters wore referred to the Finance and Legal Committee. i