THE EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 4, 2 April 1842, Page 16

THE EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO.

EXTRACT FROM " THE VOICE • FROM TiJB DEEP," PUBLISHED ON BOARD THE BARO.UE WHITBY. We are at a loss to conceive any valid reason for retaining the propensity to graft English names of persons and places on districts and towns formed in new countries, where they do not convey the least analogy as regards their application to the site or other circumstances, Most of the towns and localities in Great Britain derive their designations from Celtic origin, which language seems to have been peculiarly adapted to supply words suitable todefine their situation or quality. The definitions used are mostly highly poetic and striking, and, to those who understand the language, are remarkably significant of the features of thelocality named. It must be admitted that places are best named when the distinct quality or character is implied by its nomenclature, and it is in general bad taste, to say the least of it, that suggests any other arrangement. This modern want of invention may, however, in some measure be attributed to the poverty of the English language in providing words suitable for definition. But, where no appropriate combination of English words can be found, and where native appellations may be [ inharmonious or wanting altogether, we can see no rational objection to our falling back on the Celtic or Saxon, which was formerly our mother tongue ; or otherwise we might adopt terms framed from the dead classical languages, as Latin or Greek, whose vocabulary at present fawns the basis of nearly all the names that are given to subjects of natural history or- science, for the purpdise of classification or arrangement. As a strong proof of the appropriateness of~ the Celtic names, it is remarkable that, through the various subjugations which England, Scotland, and Wales have undergone, the invaders rarely attempted to extinguish the original ap T pellations of the towns and places which they conquered. As we stated before, the Celtic language abounds in terms of a singularly expressive character, in relation to the leading features of natural scenery. If a hill be high and peaked, low and round, rough or smooth, dark or pale, it possesses words ejcactly fitted to describe them. The same descriptive fertility exists with regard to' valleys rivers, plains, and other things. Each of its kind has its concise appellation, and that forms its name. Translate the name of almost any town of Scotland or Eng- - laud, of ancient date, and we shall find the nature of its site, or some fact relative to its origin pointed out ; as, for instance, Dalkeith, the confined dale ; lAnlithgow, the pool of the expansive concavity — which is said to be - particularly de-_ scriptive of its situation; Inveresk, a place situated at the mputh of a river; Cramond, the castle on the River Amond ; Bristol, the city of the chasm, or stream, leading to the sea; together with many others from both countries that are of Celtic origin, or else combined with Saxon, Danish, or Roman terms, equally descriptive of the situation or circumstances of the place. The names of rivers, even on the European continent, are said to derive their names almost exclusively from the Celtic ; and the variety of qualities which their names denote is remarkable — as smooth, rough, turbulent, winding, foaming, cascadiug, pool -forming, swelling, spreading, and sluggish. Colour and other qualities are defined with similar happiness — as black, white, brown, red, blue, bright, sparkling, slimy, dirty, chilly, and warm. So also referring again to various localities, how i concise are the terms, and how frequently are repeated as prefixes the- words dun, a hill ; pen, a promontory; kin, a head; aber r upon; alp, high ; or ard, a projection. These may be found, in a corrupted form, in all parts of Britain; whereas it is singular that the names imposed by the Romans are of rare occurrence, the few which remain being obvious from the termination, of caster, or Chester, from castra, a camp. It may be urged as an objection to the adoption of native names, that they are harsh and i hard to pronounce. This may be true in some instances, but it is far from being the fact generally. We have no doubt that hundreds of ! designations may be found in tbe vocabulary of the New Zealand language, which, by slight modifications, may be made perfectly available for the nomenclature of places in that country, and by which its characteristics of scenery, locality, or other circumstances, may be properly defined and preserved. In conquering a new country, or taking possession of it in any other way, we surely ought to be satisfied with the claim to the soil which might or purchase has given us, without attempting to annihilate' and extirpate all traces of its primeval history. It is therefore to be hoped that, in giving names to any future settlements, some consideration will be given to the subject which we have endeavoured, although in an imperfect manner, to submit to the attention of our readers, and that we may pave the way for a more sensible system of nomenclature, than euch names as Wellington, Nelson, or New Plymouth. By so doing, we shall hand down and perpetuate a clue to posterity, by which the origh. of a place may be known when all other traces of its existence, may have sunk into oblivion and passed away.

Ckasck rom Advkktisemkrts. — Fit* lines and under, 3s. 6d. for tbe first, and Is. 6d. for each subsequent insertion ; from fire to eight linen, Si. for the first, and 2s. for each subsequent insertion ; abore eight line*, Si. for tbe fint eight lines, and 6d. per line abore that number, and 3d. per line for each subsequent insertion. When printed in double eolatsuu, two lines to count as three.