JOHNSONVILLE WANTS A NEW NAME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2921, 6 November 1916, Page 9

JOHNSONVILLE WANTS A NEW NAME

PETITION FOR A CHANGE,

Johnsonville is tired of its name. It wants to lose track of Johnson, and does not wish to bo known any longer as "villo" or village. Many residents consider that iii the nomenclature of Wellington's suburbs the place has.been given tho most unpicturesquo of names, and with all respect to the late Sir. Johnson (a settler wlio arrived here in 1842), they believe that the best interests of the place would bo served by a chango of name. On this, all parties are. pretty well agreed, and a petition asking for a change of namo is being -largely signed in - tho district, hut on- tho momentous matter of tho new namo there does not appear to.be the samo unanimity. Several names have been .suggested, but so. far as can' be ascertained there is no ono particular name that is meeting with that general wolcomo which, should lie the ca«o when a town is renamed. No doTibt the Native name of the-locality could bo ascertained, and if a euphonious one, should be used to the exclu■sion of others. Ngaio iV an instance where the Native namo' was reverted to after tho place had long been known as .Crofton. Tawa Flat, Porirua, and Paremata arc s fihe characteristic Maori names. Further on Maori names 1 alternate .with those of the founders of tho AVellington-Manawatu Railway Co. (whose line is now tiie section of the Slain Trunk line between Wellington and Longburn). Names such as Pliminerton, Levin, and Shannon are likely to stand on that accoaint. So far wo have no New Zealand place called Islington or Liverpool (after the late and present King's representative), aiid there aro maay names connected with the war that might find a popular following, as well as others with a geographical application. The prettiest applicable, Maori ■ word, however,, would be the happiest -solution of John-' sonvillc's problem.