"Polyglutonous lollygobble"?

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 420, 21 January 1992, Page 4

"Polyglutonous lollygobble"?

• I note that our most modern of water works is, despite the glossy write-up, to use a filter of coal, gravel and sand then chalk or similar white earth, and finally sunlight with an intermediate application of "polyelectrolyte coagulant". I presume this latter will produce sufficient electricity to run the artificial sunlight. I am sure most of us appreciate the information that we are shortly to get better, safer water but a clearly understood, simply worded explanation would be helpful. What, for instance, is the polyelectrolyte? I hope it is not potassium cyanide and sulphuric acid - a very efficient polyelectrolyte, used in the USA at the very end of Death Row! Multimedia? Perhaps they mean 'layers' or 'a mix of, and not TV, radio, the Dominion and the National Orchestra or Ballet, which this word has come to mean. We are really, all of us, simple folk. Call a spade a bloody spade olease!

Clyde

Olsen

P.S. And another thing - what a senseless, expensive legal nonsense Ohakune Engineering were put through. More silica is stirred up from market gardens to cover Ohakune in a slight breeze than they could generate in 300 years. Fat lawyers and dump bureaucrats are a plague on this nation. The technical Services Director, Bruce Dobson of the Ruapehu District Council, responds as follows: Your correspondent seems to have coped really well with the technical terms, with a few additional interpretations that I admit hadn't occurred to me. Then again I haven't yet got anywhere near Death Row! The multimedia filter is layers of anthracite (coal), sand (as on beaches) and garnite (not granite as quoted in the Bulletin). The garnite is actually a material finer than sand, not rocks as your correspondent would have understandably misinterpreted. As correctly noted multimedia has nothing to do with Paul Holmes, Robert Milne et al. A polyelectrolyte coagulant is a substance which causes dirt (I hope the term is earthy enough) to coagulate (or to hold hands and become intimate). A polyelectrolyte does have something to do with electricity (but no potassium cyanide or sulphuric acid) in that is carries an electrical charge which attracts and coagulates the dirt particles. When coagulated they are much eas-

ier to filter out. But no. I am sorry the artificial sunlight sterilant, UV, will not be available to skiers wanting to get a winter tan! Cemetery spruce-up I refer to an article in your 17 December 1991 edition of the Ruapehu Bulletin regarding the planned 'spruce-up' by the Raetihi Promotions Group of various old buildings in their town. As a former residcnt and frequent visitor to Raetihi I would like to commend the group for their planning, but I would like to suggest that their 'spruce-up' be extended to a working bee at the cemetery. I have been deeply disturbed for some time by the state of the moss covered hcadstones and the weeds surrounding the headstones. This was particularly noticeable on my visit to family graves on Christmas Day, not only were ihe weeds sprouting all around the headstones, but prunings from the rose bushes had been lcft lying in the long weeds. Other visitors at the cemetery on Christmas Day who my family and I spoke to also voiced their disgust at the state of the cemetery. Being on the main road the cemetery grounds should be kept in better order so as to create a good impression for people travelling through thetown, aftcr all, first (or last-as the case may be) impressions count! I realise that it is the responsibility of the Ruapehu District Council to keep the cemetery grounds in order and all it would take is for a weedeater to be used before mowing the lawns, but for months now ihe weeds have continued to be left. It seems to me that since the administration of such work was transferred to Taumarunui the condition of the cemetery has detcriorated. Maybe it will take a 'spruce-up' to get the District Council into gear!! I for one would be willing to travel to Raetihi one weekend to help should a working bee to clean headstones be arranged. Come on Raetihi you're a great place, let's keep it that way.

"Raetihi

Born

and

Bred"

Short Rope Perhaps I should thank the person who left me enough rope for a short arena for dressage when it was cut in half around Christmas /New Year. At least at present I have sufficient rope for training in a short arena. But I also use a further 25m for a long arena.

Would the person concerned please return at least 25m so that I can splice it back together again. You are welcome to the remaining rope and reel if you think your need is greater than mine. You have not only in convenienced myself by this thoughtless act but all Ohakune Pony Club mcmbers too who train using this rope arena at times, as do the Waimarino Adult Riding Club. A few adults work hard to provide facilities and training for P.C. membcrs and many of the same people use P.C. facilities for their own rccreation and increasingly for compctition. Incidently the recent success at the North Island Team Event in . Taupo and at Taoroa yesterday show we are gctting rcsults. Whoever you are, how about putting your cncrgies into helping othcrs instead of hindering. Who knows you might evcn enjoy the expcricnce.

Evelyn

Cooper

To "The New Statesman": Letters can be published in the Bulletin with a nom-de-plume, but they also must be signed and addressed (not for publication). If you wish your letter to be published please call in to the Bulletin office and sign your letter. Editor