Renaming Birmingham (Fowlers)

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 103, 28 October 1896, Page 2

Renaming Birmingham (Fowlers)

A meeting, convened by Mr A. H. Tompkins, was held in the Birmrafehain Town Hall yesterday afternoon to finally decide whether the name of Fowlers should be definitely fixed as the designation of the locality or whether some other name should be selected. Between forty and fifty persons were present and Mr W. Morton was voted to the chair. Mr Tompkins explained that with the two names of Birmingham and Fowlers a considerable amount of confusion was caused, chiefly with regard to the former, in respect of correspondence being, sent to Birmingham in England, in place of there. The post office officials had refused to recognise Birmingham aa the name of the locality, and it was for those resident there to decide what the name should be. If some decision were not arrived at soon the name of Fowlers would be finally given to the place by the post office authorities, who adopted that name in the first instance. It was open for the settlers to accept Fowlera or any name they chose. During a lively discussion the following names were suggested, viz., Fowlers, Marauna, Eaitapu, Marangai, Burrtown, Kimbolton and one or two other names proposed apparently in jest. About half of those present de sired to retain the name of Fowlers, but after some confusion in dividing, the chairman declared that the name of " Marangai " was carried by 21 to 19 votes. With this declaration the meeting became excited, the supporters of Fowlers declared they would send in an objection to the place being called Marangai. A number desired that the place should be called Kimbolton.