EDGECUMBE’S NAME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 12, 27 October 1948, Page 5

EDGECUMBE’S NAME

Change To Pntauaki There is a move afoot to call Mf. Edgecombe Putauaki. Some people like the idea. A lot don’t. Most think it doesn’t matter much. Tjecause it will always be called Edgecumbe, anyway. Point is that the Geographic Board, recently given full status by the Government, has adopted a policy of reverting wherever -possible to the old Maori names; and it must be admitted that that tendency is in many cases commendable. One can think of many places where, on the score of euphony alone, that policy has undeniable advantages.

But this Edgecumbe business is a bit different. That name is one of this district’s direct links with Cantain Cook, British discoverer of New .Zealand, and many feel that the least respect we can show to the memory of a great Englishman is to retain the place names bestow ed by him on those features of our land that caught his questing eye. Exact origin of the name is not altogether clear. At least two historians have suggested that it is ass > ciated with a Sgt Edgecumbe of the Royal Marines who was with Cook •on that voyage. Another and more likely theory connects it with the !Mt Edgecumbe which is a prominent landmark on the west of historic Plymouth Sound, from which ‘Cook left on his voyage to New Zealand. It is possible, even probable, that memories of his home- 1 , land prompted him to bestow the name on our local landmark.

However that may be, Mt EdgeT -cumbe it w-as on Cook’s first chart from which the original Admiralty • charts were made, and Mt Edgecumbe it has been on all subsequent -charts.

There are many people here who, while they have the utmost respect for the Maori language and Maori tradition, feel that the present generally accepted name should be retained.