What Our Readers Are Thinking

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 36, 9 April 1948, Page 4

What Our Readers Are Thinking

THE DOMAIN CAR CHECK * Sir, —Allow me, through the medium of your paper, to call the attention of the Traffic Inspector and Powers that be to the danger of the barrier on the Domain footpath, especially to school children during the lunch hour break. May I suggest that the present posts be removed and placed in the centre of the path to form an adequate right and left passage to avoid the danger of speeding when the flesh pots are calling;; also for pedestrians when cyclists are coming through without bell or light during the power cuts. Yours etc., H. SERGANT.

SHOOTING AND CENTIPEDES Sir, —As I come from and was born in Whakatane I am interested enough to have my people send me the Beacon when they have finished with it and there are two things I wish to say. One is to apparently enlighten those concerned and the other is to clear up or correct a small “fact” you printed.

First and foremost, a recent account in your paper gave the results of a shoot at the Rangitaiki Rifle Club’s range for a trophy presented by the club. It referred to “Four Possibles” by men who had handicaps. Well, that is impossible. A man with a handicap can not/get a possible. He can get only a standard, and with seven shots that is 34 at 300 yards, 34 at 500 yards and 33 at 600 yards. That is to say: if a man has a handicap of 4, and scores 31 off the rifle at the 300 yards, for example, he can take only 3 of his 4 handicap and thus get 34 and not 35. That is according to N.R.A. rules and applies in all cases. With 10 shots the standard is 48 at 300 yards, 49 at 500 yards and 47 at 600 yards. I hope this can be drawn to the attention of the secretary and/or the captain of the club. The other thing is this. You stated that a centipede has rarely more than 12 legs. Well, unless what I’ve seen are not centipedes, every one I’ve counted the legs of, has had 40 (20 each side). Hoping you don’t mind being corrected and hoping the Rifle Club doesn’t take it too hard. Yours etc., “ALSO HANDICAPPED,” Ormondville.

OHOPE PROGRESS Sir, —I note with interest a letter in your coloumn under the nom-de-plume of “Overhaul.” For the guidance of the writer I would like to make the following remarks:— Firstly: Of a total population of 350 adults and children (County Council figures) 89 adults are members of the Ohope Progress League. Secondly: Had your correspondent cared to make enquiries from officers of the League he would have been informed of the reason for the absence of many League members from the annual general meeting. Thirdly: It seems apparent that “Overhaul” was numbered among the remaining “94 per cent.” who are quite prepared to allow a few willing workers to make an all out effort for the general welfare while they themselves are content to remain critical onlookers.

The Ohope Progress League is an Incorporated Society whose aims and objects are the general improvement of conditions at Ohope officers of the League are elected at the annual general meeting to which all members are asked to attend. Any officer of the League can be approached at any time and the writer is unaware of any occasion when any suggestion or request which has been placed before the League by any interested person has not been given full consideration. A close study of the chairman’s annual report which is available to all League members should be convincing evidence that the League’s

primary interest is the welfare of Ohope residents. An extraordinary general meeting of the League can be called at any time by twelve bona fide members and if “Overhaul” has the courage of his connections I would suggest that he take this step, elect a committee which in the opinion of the residents of the Beach will more fully represent them (as he suggests) and then relieve those who over the last three years have given all their available time endeavouing to carry out a thankless task. Yours etc., F. G. CUTLER.

WHITHER BOUND, HUMANITY ? Sir, —It would seem that we should thank the editor for the long delay in publishing the letter by P. Mora on this subject. No doubt' it was /timely when written (1946), but those who have read it will realise that the passing time has made it even more timely and pointed. P. Mora ,is not alone in seeing the end of civilisation looming up on the horizon; he is in the good company of many of the world’s leading scientists, statesmen, thinkers, and Bible students, whose statements one reads from time to time. Every informed person must recognise this as a fact. But the question remains, “Whither Bound?” Whether we consider humanity as a whole, separate nations and communities, or individuals, one of the most disturbing questions of all is still, “Whither Bound?” But we need not remain in doubt for there is guidance that many have turned to, and to which we all can turn. P. Mora mentions the great conquerors of the past, Frederick the Great, Napoleon, the Kaiser, Hitler, and he could have added Charlemagne, Charles V, and Louis XIV, and how they each failed to completely conquer Europe. If these same conquerors had stopped in their blood stained careers to consider that same source of guidance, they would have found that their own failures were foretold about 2,500 years ago! Every one of these conquerors has, in his failure to do what Divine prophecy said could not be done, proved the certainty of these same prophecies. And if Stalin should attempt the conquest of Europe, he too will but add another proof of the reliability of these Scriptures. It is also true that we do see alarming movements among the great heathen countries of the east that are very ominous indeed. Here again we find clear cut guidance: “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat” (Joel 3:12). Can you name even one heathen nation that is not already awake? ' And to make it clearer we read “ . . . that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared .... And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Rev. 16:12-16). As P. Mora says, . “What’s the meaning of all we see? ' Let our Saviour Himself answer: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” “ . . upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; . . . Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: .... and then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Matt. 24:7, Luke 21:2527). So we can see that Whither Bound Humanity? becomes Whither Bound, You and Me? Our destiny when Christ comes again rests with ourselves, right now. Would we know more? Jesus said “Search the Scriptures.” The guidance is there for each one of us if we will but turn to that “More Sure Word of Prophecy.” Let us regard these present happenings as a definite summons back to the Holy Bible itself. Can we look for a lead in this? Yours etc., LAYMAN.