I was interested to read the letter from Juan Carlos Rey (l?express 2 December) about the derivation of the name Australia. It is true that the term Terra Australis goes back to the ancient cartographers but prior to Flinder?s voyages the names New South Wales and New Holland had become established.

Flinders published his charts under the ?General Chart of Terra Australis or Australia? and his book, ?A Voyage to Terra Australis?. There was opposition from those who preferred to keep the name New Holland. After Flinder?s death Governor Macquarie in New South Wales started using the name Australia in official correspondence having seen it on Flinder?s charts. The first time it was used by a British Governmental Institution was in 1830 when the Hydrographic Office published a first edition of the Australiz Directory. If Flinders had not promoted Terra Australis or Australia, the Continent would probably still be known as New Holland. Therefore the text on the Flinder?s monument which attributes the naming of the Continent to him is a reasonable and widely acknowledged belief.

David R. SNOXELL