THE NAMING OF IANTHE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1927, Page 4

THE NAMING OF IANTHE

A SOUTH WESTLAND GEM

tßv T.D.il. in the ‘‘Dominion”.)

Everybody who has made ihe journey down to the Franz Josol Glacier in South Westland will remember beautiful little Lake lanthc. a gem amid Hie forest, by the shore of which the road winds for a mile or two. This lake, wo are informed was discovered and named by the late Mr .1. Al. Davie, whose death was recently recorded, and who in bygone days did a good ileal of exploring and map-making on the West Coast. There are not many Greek names on the mail ol New Zealand. and it is said that Afr Davie war. urged to call the lake after himself as a discoverer is entitled to do. However, he selected the heautitul name Linthe for this sheet of rippling water, for lanthe is one of the AOifO nymphs of the sea, daughters of the mighty and Venerable Oceaniis and the goddess TVthys. whose sons were the gods of the livers.

In the days when the old gods ruled the world the gods of the sea were treated with great deference, even to the least of the several thousand of them. The old gods were merry gods, but when the sea gods jested humanity was apt to become very uncomfortable, both externally and internally and timorous landsmen embarking on a voyage endeavoured, so far as they could, to propitiate all the sea gods they could remember, as did the sweethearts and wives of Greece's sea rovers, when the tempests raged. Even the famous Argonauts, when Jason led them on their voyaging, made an offering of flour, honey, and oil on the sea shore to all the deities of the sen, and sacrificed hulls to them, and entreated their protection. When'the ocean was calm the seamen generally offered a lamb or a pig to tli sea gods, hut when the waters were agitated a black hull was usually considered the most acceptable victim, and most likely to restore Oceanus and his frolicsome daughters to a better frame of min'd. Now the old gods have been found out, and have vanished, and, as the poet says. “ Olympus has been levelled by a laugh.” The late Afr Davie, who was 68 years of age at the time of his recent death, was horn and educated at Christchurch, and in early life as a Government surveyor explored and mapped much country on the AVest C'oast of the South Island. About forty years ago he took up a position r.s manager of the wellknown estate acquired at Pfihiatua b,\ At? A ,t RMf.ior (now Earl of iLiH

four), Imt after a year or two onured into farming on )iis own account in I lie district, and served on various public bodies there. Of lute years .Mr Davie bail been a very been member of the Thorndon Bowline, flub, lie is survived by a widow ('formerly .Miss Kalla, of Westport), two sons. Messrs C. and . K. Davie, and two daughters. Miss Davie and Mrs A. J. Berry, all of whom are resident in the Eketahuna district.