"VICTORIA" BAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4898, 25 June 1887, Page 2

"VICTORIA" BAY.

At the Harbor Board meeting last night, \lr Townley said he thought this was a fitting time when everybody is celebrating the Jubilee of Her Majeaty, and the Board the proper body, to consider whether the name of the place we live in be changed to something Bounding better than " Poveriy " Bay. He himself was quite satisfied with the namo ; he knew it had no application to the resources of the place, but it had a bad influence on outaiders. This matter had been considered by the Borough Council some time ago, and from enquiries it appeared that there would be no trouble in getting the namechanged once it wa3 found agreeable. "Victoria" Bay he thoiigLt a suitable name, as it commemorated the occasion, and there was no other bay of that name in Australasia that he knew of.

Mr Matthewson endorsed all that had been said, but preferred a native name.

Mr Chambers did not care for change aimply for the sake of changing, but he knew the name was not «atisfactoiy — it was called Poverty Bay simply because it was the richest place in the colony, and it was vice versa with the Bay of Plenty. To the outsider " Poverty Bay " conveyed a notion of log huts or something of that kind. (Laughter.) He did not care for "Victoria " though—" Fifty Years' Bay " would be be better than that. [Mr Dickson : That's rubbish. (Laughter.)] Well, " Jubilee " Bay. [That is worse.] Then something representing the resources of the place. He thought it would be gradually looked upon as " Wealthy" Bay. Mr Sievwright agreed that the name was not appropriate.

Mr Townley said Cook had named it that probably in a fit of anger, and we should not allow outsiders to be prejudiced now because of that. When the name was mentioned outside, people Baid, " Ob, that's the pace that is pested with lawyers," or something of that sort. (Laughter.)

Mr Dickson said it was immaterial about the name if we got honest men in the place. [Hear, hear, and laughter.—Member : "But we can't, that's the trouble."] He knew a prospector who always named his successful claims " Poverty " something and into one speculation with him he had himself entered and done well. ["Tlulfc brought you to Poverty Bay."] He was not altogether in Poverty either. Call it Festival Bay, in commemoration of the native Jubilee event. [Laughter, and " Oh, that would be too bad."] The Chairman and Mr Gannon agreed with Mr Townloy, and after a little more humorous indulgence, Mr Townley gave noiice to move in the matter at next meeting, the Secretary to call the attention of the other local bodies to the subject in the meantime.