WAIWETU OR WAIWHETU?

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1929, Page 10

WAIWETU OR WAIWHETU?

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In Saturday's issue there appears a paragraph with reference to the correct spelling of the above-named locality, and it is time some action was taken to put a stop to the senseless practice of calling it. either one or the other as fancy dictates. For all practical purposes it matters little whether it is called AVaiwhetu or Zedwetu^ but there can be only one correct way, and that is the official designation, Waiwetu, which, as far back as one can trace,appears on all official maps and documents. If the Postal Department calls it Waiwbetu, then it goes to show there is an inexcusable lack of co-ordination between the Government Departments. Ifc is annoying to see the different spelling o£ the same place appearing at the same time, as it frequently does in the newspapers, and I consider it should not be allowed any more than in the case o£ Wanganui, which is an exactly parallel case. There is a recognised official authority for dealing with these matters, styled, I believe, the Geographical Committee, and until a change in the spelling has been authorised the use of the correct name only should be perriitted. The: Education Board was certainly at fault in sanctioning the name given to the school in the locality. Some official action should be taken in the direction of uniformity, and the point entitled to most consideration is that of brevity and simplicity, ia which case the name would remain as at present, Waiwetu.

A somewhat analogous case is that of: Ava, the railway station near Petone. Since the line was opened I have inquired time and again from the railway officials and others, and no one seems to know; with any degree of certainty what is- thei correct pronunciation.—l am, etc.,

RESIDENT.