NAMES OF STREETS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 24 December 1920, Page 3

NAMES OF STREETS.

To tho Editor. Church Road, Otaki. Sir, —This is the way I always address my letters, for I find it is the usual way of speaking of this road the old coach road of former, years. We have three churches upou it. If u Maori is asked where the cemetery is, or the College, he will answer, “On the Church road.” If a Roman Cutholie is asked where the Convent is,, or as I was asked one day, “Where does the priest live?” “Walk on till you come to the third church and you will see the building close by,” was thp answer. This road is always dis-. tiuguished by the churches and the few houses upon it are said to be near this or that church. It is too open to bo called a street, which is supposed to have a row of houses on each side. From the Maori Church to Mr Gor-! don’s farm is all Mission property; . then there is quite a distance to the next farm. It is still an open road,. and not a street. “Te Kauparaha” is! difficult to spell. I have seen it wrongly spelt by New Zealanderseven, and" it is difficult to pronounce. A lady calling to-day said she “would never get round it!” Probably many would abbreviate the name as “Raupa street,” and that would cause it to be badly pronounced. The name of “Convent road” is often used, but bv those most interested in the Con-; vent School. I would ask the Town Board: “May we have the name so much used at present —that of the ‘Church Road’?”—Yours, etc., , H. E. WETHEY. j