ONE TREE HILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23780, 7 October 1940, Page 10

ONE TREE HILL

Sir.—"While "Matanga's" timely and deeply interesting article in the supplement repeats much of what has been said in recent correspondence, it adds this, that the mount was christened One Tree Hill by Pr. Logan Campbell himself, "obliterating for ever the Maori name from pakcha vocabulary." Our British nomenclature lias a habit of sticking, and in this case sentiment, common sense and expediency alike oppose a reversion to the Maori name. Sentiment because of the present's name's associations to thousands of people* who have known no other, common sense because of its easy application, and expediency because the domain board and the One Tree Hill Borough Council must alter their names too —held by the latter for 70 years. There remains a fourth objection, the mangling of a euphonious language. 1 knew Johannes Andersen's ear-keenness, and I can imagine his reaction to 'Mong-per-kiki"! .1 believe that if the suggestion of your correspondent Rutherfoord Lee were taken, itnd assistance sought from the elder Maori, a word could be found that would be both suitable and mangle-proof. Tetotara. for an example, is nearly so. Edwin Gukknsmith.