Story of honesty is a delight
It was great to see a “happy” story on the front page of The Press yesterday, about the honest window washer (The ring, the window washer and the ‘beautiful honesty’).
He and the man he passed the ring on to are to be commended for the way the ring ended up back with the owner.
Nice to see that there are still honest people around... more stories like this would be welcome instead of all the gloom and doom in the media!
Val Keir, Casebrook
Lost and found
Yesterday’s story about the returned ring reminds me of an incident over 15 years ago when my daughter-in-law to be was knocked off her bike on the corner of Brisbane and Brougham streets and lost the diamond from her engagement ring.
On the back of having had prayers answered I went early next morning and scoured the road. After an hour I gave up.
Waiting for the Brougham St traffic before turning, I decided to look one more time, opened my door looked down and there it was.
Think what you will. I know it had to be an answer to prayer.
John Beach, Sydenham
Easter changes?
Gary Fox, a devout Christian (Letters, April 2) makes a plea for removing restrictions on shopping hours, so allowing Christians more flexibility concerning Easter observance.
Given I have no knowledge of Gary’s situation, I would argue that when the secular world wants to negate/restrict things Christian, our default reaction must be silence or retreat.
For years, Christian leadership has been on mute, or offered flaccid “statements” in the face of getting rid of Bible in schools, church bells unrung, and Easter/Christmas reduced to Bunny/ Santa. There seems to be “no fight in the dog”, no vigorous assertion that Christian belief and expression belong in NZ, and merit respect.
I wonder who cared that the weekend TV programmes had almost nil reference to Easter, but the usual fare of violence/ sex/vulgarity was all available.
The media alerts us to the dire situation and hardship of reduced shopping hours as any restriction on personal convenience is to be removed forthwith. A little forethought and planning could solve this for most situations.
Why are a couple of days for a break from fast-paced lifestyles to rest, reconnect and recharge not seen as a human need? We are not machines, and being kept in an environment of constant motion/noise/messages leaves us tired, tense and close to “running on empty”.
Jesus was right: we don’t live on bread alone. Material things are important, but so is time to rest, enjoy and be present to the special people we share life with. Ron Elliott, Casebrook
Hope for society
I would like to thank Mark Walton for the heart-warming article A lifetime of caring
in the weekend’s edition of The Press
(March 30).
I would appreciate more such articles in the future as they give hope for our society.
Thank you, editors.
Solvejg Ruarus, Halswell
Bypassed again
How envious was I, and I’m sure many other rugby fans, watching the Hurricanes play the Melbourne Rebels in Palmerston North recently. A huge turnout of fans from all around the Manawatu and Horowhenua Districts justified the decision of the Hurricanes board to again take home games outside Wellington.
Meanwhile Nelson continues to be ignored as a venue for any Crusaders games, with only two at Trafalgar Park in the last nine years.
It was alright for the Crusaders to ask at short notice after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes for the Tasman Rugby Union to host three games, but absolutely no gratitude for that has been shown by them since.
It is clear Crusaders fans in Nelson don’t count when the game venues are being decided, a continuing disgrace. Come on Crusaders board, get your act together before all of us become Hurricanes fans! Neville Male, Nelson [abridged]
Injustice focus
It was stated that the series Mr Bates and the Post Office was “the one thing that prompted the British government to announce a new law to exonerate and compensate victims”.
The documentary Escaping Utopia might at last bring action to prevent harm and close down Gloriavale.
These productions do not get made to make a lot of money but to shine a light on injustice. We need public support for media. This is the basis of a healthy democratic society.
Joy McLeod, Diamond Harbour
Warbirds success
Perfect weather, dedicated volunteers and impeccable organisation made the longawaited Warbirds Over Wānaka a great success (Warbirds wow at Wānaka, April 1).
The 1930s Avro Anson pictured was a triumph of Kiwi can-do and dedication, taking two decades and seven-figure expense to become the only airworthy Mk1 Anson in the world.
Sadly, like the equally praiseworthy NZ-restored Mosquito, it is expected to go to an American buyer.
Richard Lea Clough, Rangiora