THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1921. “PAEROA” OR “HAURAKI”?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4335, 28 October 1921, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1921. “PAEROA” OR “HAURAKI”?

Asked what we thought of the proposal to change the name of Paeroa to Hauraki, and as to whether or not this paper would support the movement to change the name, we replied decidedly in the affirmative. Indeed, we could not well do otherwise and remain consistent, seeing that ’ some months ago we changed: our title to “Hauraki Plains” Gazette. Consistency may at times, as Emerson says, be ‘‘the refuge of fools,” but in this case we think consistency as a policy is dictated to us by the fruits of our own experience. No informed person can deny that the “Gazette” is steadily making progress all the time, and this would probably not be the case had the fact of alter ing the name not been distinctly advantageous. We see no cause for why the reasons which induced us to take the name “Hauraki” should not apply with equal force to the nomenclature of the town. Let it be borne in mind first of all that the “Gazette” has never at any time included the name “Paeroa” in its title, though that name appears next to the title, indicating the place of publication. Indeed, it could hardly be expected- that the name “Paeroa,” meaning “the long ridge,” could have any compelling power. “Paeroa,” the long ridge, the long barren ridge, the gold gone and now good for nothing but depasturing goats on the sparse vege tation of the bleak heights. What “pull” has such a name by comparison with the “Valley” and the “Plains,” which produce the wherewithal to feed and clothe human beings ? Who, in his sober senses, would prefer “the long ridge” to the fertile “Hauraki Plains,” the heights and crags instead of the abounding productivity of the Plains ? Experience has taught us that, owing to the lack of local knowledge by outsiders, the fact thar Paeroa is the natural geographical, road and railway centre for the Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains is not appreciated. When a Minister of Education frankly admitted recently that he did not know Paeroa was only some nine miles from Patetonga as the crow flies, what can be expected from lesser lights ? Neither “Paeroa” nor “Ohinemuri” mean anything to the stranger, more than that they denote “played-out mining areas,” with a very precarious future in store, whereas the real position is as stated, that Paeroa has the best portion of the famous Hauraki Plains as its district, for which the town is the natural outlet. Talk to the outsider about “Paeroa” and “Ohinemuri”

and he merely looks somnolent or displays that forced interest the well-bred man will deliberately assume out of sheer politeness. But talk to him about the Hauraki Plains, and he at once becomes animated —if he is a reasonably well-informed and intelligent individual; the other sort do not matter. The logical deduction is that the people of Paeroa are suffering an injustice by the circumstance that outsiders who have no local knowledge entirely fail to appreciate the undoubted truth that this town has a magnificent producing district right alongside, and is, therefore, a town well worth while starting new enterprises in. We have reason to believe that the long-delayed daily motor service to Netherton, Kerepeehi, and Ngatea will very shortly become an accomplished fact; certainly no other town could have such a direct service with the Plains, reaching the centre and the “plum of the Plains” without having to cross ferries or use trains and launches for portions of the journey. If a name counts for anything at all, it should truthfully connote the best that the district comprises. There is everything to gain and nothing to lose by .changing from “Paeroa” to “Hauraki,” and we wish, the promotors of the proposal speedy success. If the accomplishment of the purpose in handresults as beneficially to the town as the similar step taken by us in regard to our title has done with us, there will be nothing to regret. Furthermore, we honestly believe that the initiative taken, by this paper has already done good for Paeroa, by giving leading men in Auckland, Hamilton, and other centres a better vision of the prospects of the town. The sooner the name is changed to “Hauraki” the better. Correspondence on the subject, either for or against the proposition, is welcomed. And finally, the sponsors of the movement may count on the whole-hearted support of “The Hauraki Plains Gazette” — to the last ditch.