WHAT’S IN A NAME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17014, 12 April 1923, Page 6

WHAT’S IN A NAME.

♦ Whether the Otira tunnel should continue to he called the -Otira tunnel, as it is referred to by ninety-nine persons in a hundred, or whether it should he saddled with the awkward l ame of Arthur's Pass tunnoll is a matter fortunately, on which there can be only one answer. Otira tunnel it is and Otira tunnel it must remain by common use, w hatever the Railway department may call it officially. It pierces the ranges that enclose the beautiiul Otira Gorge-, and- travellers will always associate the tunnel with the name ol the gorge rather than the pass. The meaning of the Maori word Otira is “out of the sun,” from the gorge being much in the shade, and a more appropriate name could not be found for any tunnel, much less the Otira tunnel. But after all. stick, and wherever there is an opportunity to perpetuate a beautiful expressive Maori word, a strong effort should he made to do so. There are too many meaningless/ <u at all events unimpressive names in common use, such as Ethel ton Ho.rrelville, Doyleston. Prebbleton. Ahngan’> Track and so on. Unimaginative men have been allowed too much of their own way iu the place naming of New Zealand, and horrible examples of their work are j to be found in the small stations on i the Cheviot line, for instance. In the ( case of a lingo national undertaking ; like the Otira tunnel which is +he i Empire’s longest tunnel, a dignified | name should he insisted on. The Otira j tunnel is 5 miles 515 yards long in I an absolutely straight line, and it is j a mile longer —all hut 81 yards -llia-n i the second longest tunnel in the Km- ; piro. the Severn funnel It deserves a better name than the old departmental records seems to have selected j for it. The first shot was fired at Otira | and the opening ceremony will beheld • there. I■_ is rather disappointing to , note that the opening lias been put , hack to -Tunc, but it is essential that ; a sound permanent job should Tie made !of fjic works, so that there will be | no interruption once the through traffic jon the line is launched between the ; East anil West. Coast*-.