MAORI MEMORIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18931, 28 April 1933, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES.

INTERESTING VIGNETTES

(Recorded by INQOA MAORI. From a private letter written by the late Captain Danlell, of Rangltikei, in 1850, we learn that the original name of that now-popular suburb of Wellington, Ngaio, was “Tresiiic,” the origin of which, even In that day, no one seemed to know. The name Ngaio was given to the Post Office there at the suggestion of the late Mr Poynton, Resident Magistrate of Palmerston North, who saw a street of that name in a suburb of Rome which was planted from end to end with splendidly-grown New Zealand ngaio. Acting upon this Interesting oircumstance, it was suggested to the Palmerston City Council that each new street should be planted with a selected variety of native free and the street named after it. After adopting Titoki, Karaka, Matipo, Kowhai, Ngaio and a few others, this distinctive and acceptable system has unfortunately been allowed to lapse. Captain Daniell’s letter mentions that Lord Cecil, afterwards the Marquis of Salisbury, was a visitor to Tresiiic, and was much interested in the ngaio which grew there so luxuriously. He secured seed and took it home lo England, where Maori plant life is more valued.

Since the death of that enthusiastic Maori scholar Elsdon Best, chairman of the Nomenclature Committee, the work of that body seems to be in suspense. Who can resuscitate it?