That Possessive “S.”

The matter of New Zealand placenames ending with the apostrophe “s” has been discussed recently. The endeavour to eliminate the possessive from such a name as Arthur's Pass has not received popular support. That name, in particular, is well established in its present form, and should continue to have the official sanction given to it by the Canterbury Survey Office in the Sixties. Young Nick's Head is another historic name which it would be absurd to lop of its “s.”

Another example of a good old Coast name is Riley's Look-out, a familiar object on the Coast route south of Kaikoura, on the way to Canterbury. It is a round crag of an islet close to the beach and near an old-time whaling station. It was used as a watch-place by the whalers on the look-out for “a spout” seaward, hence the name. But dock it of its “s” and its meaning would be altered; it could be taken then as a cautionary admonition to Mr. Riley to keep his weather eye lifting.