RENAMING OF NOB’S LINE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 3

RENAMING OF NOB’S LINE

NOW TO BE CALLED TUREHU ST. MAORI TRADITION RECALLED. Turehu Street is to be the new name of Nob’s Line, off Mangorei Road, New Plymouth. In coming to this decision last night the Borough Council had before it a memorandum from Mr. W. H. Skinner stating that the word “turehu,” or fairy, referred to a mythical, light-skinned, light-haired race who came to New Zealand long before the advent of the Maoris. Mr. Skinner said that the hill skirted by that part of Nob’s Line it was pronosed to re-name was called Puke-o-te Pua, or Hill of the Pua. In this instance pua meant a tree, or part of a forest frequented by birds; otherwise a favourite spot for the snaring or spearing of birds. On this hill, he said, there grew a fine grove of puriri trees, well remembered by him when a young survey cadet. Around and in and out this grove Maori tradition said the Turehu danced and sang at sunrise and sunset.