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Nyleta,
Grosvenor Street,
Toowong, S.W.1.
9th February, 1940.

Dear Mr. May,

I think you for Place Names Bulletin No. 8.

On one place name therein, the meaning of which appears to
be doubtful, I may be able to show some light. A local
resident once informed me that the name was supposed to mean,
not "Where is the water" as given in the bulletin, but "Place
from where water can be seen". In such case I have little
doubt that the name should be Koonginya, from koong, water,
and nya, to see; the letter i, as in English in, being merely a
liquifying agent between consonants, as is common to abo.
languages. These words are common to S.E. Queensland
languages and could indicate "A view of water" and probably
was applied to some place in the vicinity, certainly not the
township, from where a general view of the local swamps, which,
I believe, were much more extensive at one time than now,
could be obtained. If I remember rightly, my informant as to
the meaning given above was Mr. Heers, a local storekeeper.

Yours sincerely,
F.J.Watson

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