OUR SYSTEM OF NAMING.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3202, 24 May 1879, Page 4

OUR SYSTEM OF NAMING.

The man who first instituted the absurd system of naming newly-discovered places and newly-built cities after old ones deserves the reprobation of all sensible persons. We only wish we knew when his centenary comes round, as we would willingly devote.the whole day to consigning his memory to oblivion. As our school reminiscences include New Carthage, New Rome, Nu-midia, and a host of jothers, we are forced to, admit that the custom has antiquity to recommend it; but it only says the less for us moderns thit we have not yet been cable :to shike off this folly of our fathers. Our thoughts are i directed to this theme : by the fact that New Zealand is very sensibly agitating for re-baptism. We wish tne 1 movement all success,sand,sincerely) hope that when the spirit of Macaulay comes to ilook for his New Zealander, it may be possible to inform him.througbjtables. or; otherwise, that "there ain't, no _ sich person." Our . present purpose is to recommend the subject tb'the attention of our southern neighbours, iwhose territory is tar more in want of re-christening than even New Zealand. Here is a countryinviting all the Old World, and America besides, to come over on a visit, and the inhabitants. thereof have actually no collective name to sign-the invitation with. The name New South Wales is a cumbrous-absurdity; and any, attempt to specify the inhabitants from name of their country breaks down,in ignominious failure. One cannot speak with any degree of solemnity of the New South Welsh;' arid there'is a combined suggestiveness of blubber and lamentation about the New South Walers sthat every; self-respecting New South Taffy would be sure to resent. What must be the agonies endured by those poor competitive poets who are even now tuning up for that hundred guinea exhibition prize, in'trying! to introduce, with any transcendental effort, the name of the country and people they are, bound to eulogise ! "Hail Victoria !"— why that is a poem in itself ; t but "Hail New South Wales I" would put the harp of an angel out of joint. Now, would it not be a grand idea for the. New South What'Shall-we-call-ems to turn the great world-gathering of next September into a high baptismal festival? Could there be a better opportunity , for the perfor^ mance of the rite than that which will bring the representatives of the nation to . act; Has ; sponsors? Would it not greatly augment the glory of the inaugural ceremony to associate the proclamation of the name with the event of the day ? Meantime a competitive hundred guineas for the best name would be well-spent money. And, by way of initiating the competition, we would suggest that " Cookia " is at once highly satisfactory to the poetic* cense, comports well with}the• dignity,of history, and has about it a sweet-smelling savour and a promise of good things to' come.—" Specialities," in the Queenslander, -5... 'i.r. J- J. '■-.. > ■: