A22 Saturday, May 11, 2013 , Letters

❯❯ In a few words Glorious, wonderful Christchurch – the city mends I agree with A Chandler that many Christchurch people smell (May 2). During winter I reduce my bus Look for the small things in Christ- Woolston this also applies to residents and so travel because of smelly human church, the new things, the things we are in the position of having to passengers – from teenagers to that have changed shape and Get on with it! drive around and around until we seniors. Soap is cheap, so there’s become other things. This is what I A few weeks ago we were in the are lucky enough to find a park. no excuse for not being clean. found on a recent walk through the Cathedral City for a week. Being a My husband, who is in his 70s, MARION BEECROFT CBD with Australian visitors, retired farmer, engineer and went out to buy much-needed Regarding Justin Marshall on starting at CPIT on Madras St. wanderer, I wandered the once groceries, came back, parked his Sky Sport, I didn’t realise that The joy of a Summers with a proud CBD in awe and horror and car in the only available space he umpiring came under the couple flinging themselves around wonder – not at the destruction by could find while he carried his umbrella of commentating. with chubby joy. Then on to the the earthquakes but at the paraly- bags to the house. Upon his return ANNE SHAW elegance and emotion of Song sis consuming the city fathers and to the car he found that he had Christchurch deserves better than Song. Down Madras to smile at the minister of earthquakes. received a parking infringement having as mayor or (and to reminisce about) dining at For goodness sake, where’s notice at a cost of $60 for parking a even in local-body politics. Voters a wobbly table. The adjoining Cantabs’ red and black? Where’s few centimetres over a broken sorted out and will ArtBox was not open but a their get-up-and-tell-’em? yellow line. do the same to Dalziel. We do not strained view through the plastic Get on with and do it! Tell ’em Of course one accepts that want to become political footballs. covering looked interesting. And what you want and make sure that ‘‘rules is rules’’, but one also What we need is professional and across the road, the swirl of flying you get it – just like the Crusaders expects a modicum of common non-biased leadership, so Bob numbers that sits on the corner. of old, rugby style and all. sense at times like these. Parker deserves another term. Onward down Madras and into I am appalled and disgusted at JAN NICHOLLS Let’s train some of the younger Alice’s building. What a fantastic the paucity of action and redevel- Central Christchurch councillors and get behind them. lift. Ahh, memories. To the top opment. Snails could get the place HUGH DENT floor to an equally fantastic circu- humming faster than all the Quite simple, really I cannot believe that Tim Frazer lar staircase (and view to the hills). sleepy, too scared to put a foot I live in a street in Ilam that at opposes Lianne Dalziel as a Both treasures of times past. And wrong drongo-types tasked with this time of the year has more than mayoral candidate because she is the vege garden outside C1! Great. making Christchurch hum again. a liberal sprinkling of autumn a member of the Labour Party Back to St Asaph to Christ- Fifty-plus years ago I came to leaves. In fact, they are (May 4). It smacks of Tory bigotry. church’s treasures – 185 Empty Christchurch as a student and was centimetres deep in the guttering. My interest is solely one of getting Chairs. Emotional. Artistic. Mov- proud to call it home. I wouldn’t Between 4.30am and 5am on a the best mayor on offer and, as ing. Who put up the empty picture want to now, such is the pathetic recent morning the leaf-sucker our incumbent has not performed frames? Equally moving. pace of redevelopment. Road to recovery: A walk through Christchurch offers much to enjoy and inspire. Photo: IAIN MCGREGOR/FAIRFAXNZ truck went up one side of the street in that role, I consider it is time for On to the cathedral of card- Pull your heads out of the and then down the other. a change. board/metal/glass – how exciting. solidified liquefaction and damn I have some advice for the WALLY WAKEFIELD At the end of Latimer Square is well get on with the rebuild. For POSTSCRIPT intellectual giant who program- There will always be lack of a solid, squat cross sitting quietly pity’s sake. mes the work for this time and harmony around the council table in the corner. Made of cathedral DICK KING who clearly does not understand while you have factions from wood and a memorial to our Rotorua A reader ignored the excellence of guide printed on the Opinion page, of what is written. the dynamics of suburban living. opposing political parties, as they Aussie friends who helped. And Dirk du Lu’s prose in this week’s we prefer letters to be no longer Those considerations seldom Ninety per cent of people are will always support their parties’ far across to the right, a spec- My gratitude salmon-winning letter but did than 150 words, but it is only a lead to a letter of 435 words being asleep at this time, and 30 per cent beliefs even if that is not the best tacular red/brown/orange paint- EQC has just finished cosmetic complain about its length. Indeed, preference. If a letter warrants run and neither should they of the street has vehicles parked on for Christchurch. A full council of spattered wall. Now that’s a mural, repairs to my home. What a superb he went to the trouble of counting running at greater length we will because we want to print as many it. That means people are awaken- independent members would put Muriel. job has been done. every one of its words – 435. do so. correspondents as possible. ed by a noise akin to a Boeing 737 our city ahead of politics. There On to the Firefighters Memor- I thank Beech Construction and The motive for such diligence So what is weighed in the And remember, brief letters and, because the truck has to are always those who put their ial. Glorious. Down through a its contractors, Lesley MacDonald was that one of his contributions balance of warranting? attract a high readership because circumvent the parked vehicles, it hand up for election who have no blizzard of golden poplar leaves at the EQC Mairehau hub, and had been cut while du Lu’s was Argument that needs length; of their digestibility and their misses at least three metres at the business sense or knowledge of along the river bank to the most especially our two Irish painters, run at generous length in fine writing; seamless narrative; often skilfully concise writing. front and back of them. The result how to run a very large company, hi-vis tree on the planet. Wow! Richard and Sean. contravention of our rules. uncuttable wit or wisdom; the They are our ideal. is about half the street is swept and which is what the council is. Let’s Then to the Peterborough STEWART I R CURTIS As we tell potential enchantment of words neither too Michael Vance, letters editor leaves still clog the gutters and hope the man who has done so Library to check out the mural Papanui correspondents every day in the many nor too few; the importance [email protected] eventually the stormwater pipes. much for the people of our city, across the face of the building. So Now, to assist with some simple Bob Parker, can encourage enough very, very interesting. Putting us in danger logic: if the work were independents to stand and support Then the obligatory latte at the After 12 months of asking EQC not meet the criteria for an urgent up Garlands Rd, including my We lost local shops to programmed for, say, 8.30am, most him. Pallet Pavilion. How could you not to check the safety of our brick repair to be authorised’’. friend’s house. Look at it now. earthquakes and shopping malls, residents would be up and the B BRIGGS smile at this shrine to all that is two-storeyed home, EQC advised One has to wonder what sort of We have always been sensitive we lost a variety of shops in the vehicles would be taking their Former National Cabinet minister recyclable? Even the coffee-lady us to get it checked by a structural process EQC has that excludes to the smells/pollution wafting central city. Why deny locals in occupants to work, leaving the Philip Burdon’s endorsement of and food-man had been recycled – engineer. His report said that ‘‘one following the advice of a senior from Skellerup, Davis Gelatine, this area access to local way for an efficient and more Lianne Dalziel as a worthy from Japan! wall was dangerous and needed to structural engineer. the tanneries and fish factories. entertainment and shops? neighbourhood-friendly operation. mayoral candidate is immensely Victoria Square – contem- be taken down and the wall Meanwhile, we are hundreds of We have noted the death of trees CLAIRE COVENEY RED SAPWELL significant (April 29). It counters plative, quite. temporarily clad if an immediate dollars out of pocket and walk past caused by salination and pollution Opawa Burnside any portrayal of her as being On to the Gloucester St Bridge repair could not be authorised’’. an unstable wall every time we caused by industry, sewage and narrowly Leftist and declares her and looking back – a building An EQC estimator, after enter or leave our home. developmental runoff. Common sense, please Suburban shops hurt to be worthy of respect and reflecting a building. Most people viewing photos of our house, CATHY CAMPBELL Opawa was torn apart by an Our street is undergoing remed- Well done, Recover Canterbury, support across a broad political miss this. rejected our request for repairs. Cracroft ugly motorway. Opawa Rd has lost ial work to its drains. This is not for supporting businesses (May 7). spectrum. Significant also is Worcester St Bridge: a small We complained, hoping EQC housing to businesses. unwelcome despite the noise and But the loss of the South Brighton Mr Burdon’s characterisation of black heart embedded with nails would at least visit and look at the Why deny the locals? Now John Walley claims we disruption to daily life. What is of shopping centre to quake damage Ms Dalziel as ‘‘sympathetic and on a pole standing, lonely, behind a damage, but this was rejected on Since our house was built in should not rejoice at some concern is the lack of parking in highlights that Recovery Canter- generous’’ towards those of an wire barrier. Beautiful. And the the grounds that EQC has 1946 in Opawa-Woolston, over the character rebuilds with shops and the immediate area. bury could have done more to opposite political persuasion, and Botanical Gardens – what quake? processes to evaluate requests for tracks has been a mix of private bars for locals (April 29). But this Because our street is very support suburban small-business as having a ‘‘balanced and And on and on it goes – urgent repairs. and state houses, charity homes is what sustainability and narrow, the contractors have owners. considered approach’’ to her glorious, wonderful Christchurch. EQC upheld the decision and factories. Skellerup, only prior community building is about: we erected high gates at each end to LINDA STEWART responsibilities. These are MAX LUCAS because ‘‘the work proposed did to industry going offshore, gobbled can walk or bike there. keep traffic out. Unfortunately, Parklands mayoral qualities of which our city stands sorely in need. From the very first of our disastrous earthquakes, Ms Dalziel has distinguished herself as a doughty advocate for Christchurch and its Christchurch needs a stadium that can seat at least 50,000 people – above all, as one for whom our city’s woes are not a photo- While the proposal for a new Maybe we can lift our sights available to the public? Will a Christchurch Stadium? Many people felt that it was a Temple of sport opportunity drama. stadium, as described in The Press even higher, with New Zealand as Canterbury supporter who is regrettable move when the ground PETER TUFFLEY on Wednesday, has some positive a whole assisting. We must not working as hard as, say, a labourer I enjoy reading David Killick’s lost its traditional tag, Lancaster The article in Wednesday’s Modern democracy is nonsense. attributes, it lacks the most take second place to Auckland. have the opportunity to enjoy such articles in The Press regarding the Park. That was a name held dear Press by David Killick raises new Put half a dozen public executives important component. J MORGAN a view of our field? Christchurch rebuild, and to many sporting codes that had ideas. Although the artist’s in a sandpit and they would vote Christchurch requires a Central Christchurch Most of these big plans are Wednesday’s column, regarding used the facility during its long impression of the new stadium six out of six to bash each other stadium large enough to host financial dogs, offering 3 to 4 per a possible new stadium, was no history of Canterbury sporting looks good, something is missing. with plastic spades. Put half a international premium events. Seat for Joe Average? cent returns at best, subsidised by exception. endeavour. The office space might be a way dozen of anyone else in a sandpit The Rugby World Cup is just one Geoff Saunders opines that ratepayers. Why not settle for Killick rejects sponsors BEVAN WHITTY of making the stadium financially and five would vote to share their example. So seating for 28,000 is Cantabrians need saving from a what we have got until the city has claiming the naming rights and St Albans viable, but what is missing is the tractors, even with the one from not enough. Seating for 50,000 is white-elephant new stadium the spare cash to do better? the sports ground using the name religious factor. the business school. For the bare conservative minimum. (May 5). His concern is that such a If I’m wrong, why stop with of its most famous predecessor, What a joke! Put a steeple in the centre (one democracy to work, voters need to Eden Park has 50,000 capacity. development will lose money seven-storeyed office towers on Lancaster Park. The design for the Christchurch that can be raised with the retract- be exposed to several years of The Melbourne Cricket Ground unless it it is surrounded by office each corner of our field? Go for the If a sponsor wants to front up stadium, which reminds me of the able roof) and we would have a political satire before an election, has 100,000. blocks, hotels, clubs and shops. works – a full sized rollercoaster, and tie its brand to the stadium, massive concrete anti-aircraft flak cathedral for our religion, rugby. then most might vote for Canterbury must lead the South Mr Saunders proposes a field local hero wax museum, a killer I see no harm. towers built by Nazi Germany, People from all over world themselves before any gaggle of Island and have a truly great overlooked from all corners by whale aquarium and African We have had Jade and AMI, but must be a late April Fool’s Day would visit Christchurch and we selfish, dithering sociopaths who stadium. We may get only one shot office blocks. It will be a ‘‘money prairie encounter. Christchurch Stadium prank (May 8). would be the envy of the world. climb on bandwagons to hit each at doing so. Take time, plan it well maker’’ with great views. RAMON LUXON (Taiwhanga Hakinakina)? DAVID JAMES McKENZIE RON SALTHOUSE other with plastic spoons. and get it right. Are those positions going to be Cashmere Yeah, right. Ryazan, Russian Federation RD8 Christchurch GARY GRAHAM

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