Natureland for the people

MAILBOX

It is becoming increasingly obvious from various communications made by the Nelson City Council, either written or verbally, that they are more or less united in the drive to shut down Natureland. And why? To save a few measly dollars.

I would like to remind them that they are elected by a democratic process of Nelson’s inhabitants.

The councillors may hold their own individual views, but they cannot operate like some communist politburo, acting for the good of the people, as if the people were incompetent.

Last week, when I was sweeping in front of the Lord Snowdon aviary at Natureland, not long after its 9.30am opening time, I counted 14 visitors – seven adults and seven children.

Are they going to be banished into a sort of no-man’s land of ignorance and indifference, a sort of mental Siberia towards our fellow creatures?

No! ANTON HYMAN Nelson, December 30.

Unattended realm

In their focus on squandering rates monies on expensive and questionable items of art, our mayor and councillors have ignored the proper maintenance needs of some of our oldest treasures.

My visit to Queen’s Gardens on New Year’s Day was the first for a long while and I was saddened by its condition.

The pond obviously hasn’t been cleaned for many years and its heavy accumulation of leaf debris gives a dark and sinister cast to the water.

The former pristine freshness of the gifted Chinese Garden is no longer – it looks uncared for and its foot-massaging floor-surface is badly in need of a sweep. The beauty and simple functionality of its being has been undermined.

The established trees, minus the Suter’s sacrificed oaks, are as magnificent as ever, but elsewhere, the gardens and their decorative hedges display only perfunctory maintenance and a lack of dedicated care.

The state of Queen’s Gardens seems to epitomise our council – attention to trivialities, nonsensical splurging on the Rugby World Cup, an absurd emphasis on indolent art and fatuous mayoral touting of the council’s credit-rating as equal to that of world banks.

All the while, important matters in dire need of attention lie much closer to home. JIM CABLE Nelson, January 2.

Racy summer event

Regarding the Port Nelson Street Races, a big thanks to the Nelson Road Racing Association for putting on this iconic Nelson event and to Port Nelson and local business for their support.

The final race for the day is the Port Nelson, Alistair Marer Memorial Cup. On behalf of the Marer family, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the racing association and all its supporters.

If you didn’t make it to the races this year, go next year. It is the one of the top-10 events of the Nelson summer. NICK MARER Nelson, January 3.