TONGARIRO RIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21086, 21 January 1932, Page 10

TONGARIRO RIVER.

NAME TO BE RETAINED. USE IN MOTORING MAPS. Following the difference of opinion that has arisen.concerning the naming of. the Tongariro or Upper Waikato River, the council of the Auckland Automobile Association decided last evening thi't in its official publications it Avould name the lower portion of the river, near Lake Taupo, the Tongariro and the upper reaches of the stream the Upper Waikato. In recommending the adoption ,of + his | compromise, tho association's touring manager, Mr. R. E. Champtaloup, stated that evidence had been submitted showing that the river was named the Waikato in the early survey maps of New Zealand and it was only in late years, apparently for publicity purposes to distinguish the fishing urea at the southern end of Lake Taupo from Taupo itself, that the name Tongariro was adopted. After conferring with the Government department concerned and finding that the New Zealand Geographic Board had named the river the-Upper Waikato, with the name Tongariro in brackets following, Mr. Champtaloup said ha erected signs renaming the river. "A. good deal of opposition has been raised to the renaming of the river," he reported, "but I am convinced that much .of the agitation derives its source from commercial interests. Nevertheless, the name Tongariro is associated throughout the world with trout-fishing and I feel thai it would be contrary to the best interests of the Dominion to dissociate the name Tongariro from this famous fishing river." APr. Champtaloup recommended that in the association's official' publications the source of the Waikato River should be shown as in all the Government maps as at the foot of Mount Ruapehu. From that point to the junction' of the Poutu River, near Rangipo, it should be shown as the Upper Waikato River, and from that junction to Lake Taupo as the Tongariro River. ''l think that this arrangement would meet the wishes of all interested parties and, while retaining the name Waikato, would at the same time preserve the value of the publicity derived through Tongariro," he added. . The recommendation was adopted.