RECHRISTENING WANTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 518, 22 November 1928, Page 12

RECHRISTENING WANTED

WHITIANGA TO MERCURY BAY RIVAL PETITIONS CIRCULATED Press Association THAAIES, To-day. There is a strong agitation in the Mercury Bay district in regard to changing the name of Whitianga to that historic name, Mercury Bay. A deputation, consisting of Alessrs. N. A. Wells, T. H. Lyon, E. Chadban and G. N. Steel, waited on the Coromandel County Council on Alonday, and stressed the necessity of changing the name, which they maintain is only known to the postal authorities; the outside world knows the township as Mercury Bay. A recent poll on the subject showed that 116 people were in favour of the change and 15 against it. Cr. Lee pointed dut that a more recen t petition had 160 name in favour of retention of Whitianga. A request by the deputation to see the petition was granted, which on perusal was found to contain names of non-residents and minors. The opponents of the present proposals maintained that commercial considerations should not be permitted to outweigh the obligation of the people to honour Maori traditions an 1 placenames. The council said it was difficult to come to a decision owing to the conflicting petitions. They thought a poll should be taken of the ratepayers in the ridings concerned at the next county elections. The final decision was deferred until next council meeting. A previous resolution of the council refused to sanction the changing of the name.