Letters to the Editor

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 20, 13 October 1987, Page 2

Letters to the Editor

On behalf of the "Chills Off Committee, I wish to thank the people of Raetihi, Ohakune and Waimarino District, who gave so freely of their time and en-

ergy to participate in the fun during the "Chills Off' Fun Day held 4 October. Our committee is especially grateful to the teams: Hansens, Karate

Club (2), Pressure Cookers, Ruapehu College, Raetihi Primary School, Raetihi Divers, Raetihi Swimming Club, Ruapehu Hotel, Raetihi Cossy Club, for their sporting efforts, also local individuals, groups and businesses (see Public Notice), and to the great "challenging" crowd at the Ruapehu Hotel Disco that night. However, I must express my disappointment to those people, who were unable to acknowledge the organisation of the day, and v/ere unable to show interest in viewing the events, welcoming teams at various points, or by taking the opportunity to avail themselves of the facilities at several advertised locations. This project will benefit many in the community, you, your children, and grandchildren, now and in the future. Consider the usual conditions for learners and those teaching them!! We sincerely thank the twelve people who phoned

in pledges on the day. Should any individual, community or sports group, social club or business, wish to contribute to the "Chills Off" Fund, please forward your donation to the undersigned. We would be pleased to hear from any individual available to help on committee or with any specific venture. Our committee hope you will support our video raffle now on sale, and we look forward to meeting you at our Cabaret on 17 October. Thanks everyone, who helped make it a great Fun Dav

S. J.

McDonouvh

"Chills Off" Chairperson My colleagues and I are very pleased of the fine showing the Ruapehu College Ski Champions gave our community at the North Island Secondary School's Skiing Championships recently. Considering more than eighty schools participated and Ruapehu College

placed first overall, we feel these young adults are deserving of more support and recognition from the community than we show in our paper (perhaps a more detailed/interesting write up?) There are many talented youngsters in the Waimarino region - this is just one example of initiative and achievement . All of them are our future. Good on you kiwis!

Mary

McCavana

Here here! Sports groups, including school groups, are most welcome to submit reports and photographs of their exploits to the Bulletin. We will do our best to publish most if not all sports material we receive. Editor On the subject of skiing - skiing Turoa in particular. All skiers are acutely aware of the ever-escalating cost of indulging in this seasonal and exhilarating sport, which is a sport of an ever-increasing number of New Zealanders. In the case of Turoa Skifields, the installations are operated by a private company, and this appears to be a justification for pecuniary greed. I will give you a case in point. On October 5th a party of three of us paid $36.00 each to "Ski Turoa". The weather conditions were described as NW winds of 20 knots with unlimited visibility and the snow and mountain conditions were described as firm packed snow, and "Park Lane" chair as being marginal skiing with excellent conditions on the "Movenpick" chair, and the "Jumbo" T-bar expected to open. So far so good, and up we went for a warm-up on the "Movenpick" prior to skitoting hike over rocks and

down a steep rocky incline to the "Jumbo" T-bar. We were, however, spared the hike over the rocks by the closing of the "jumbo" due to wind. This left the "Movenpick" as the only viable alternative for skiing, as the "Giant" chair was in a state of disrepair, and the company has publicly declared that it will not be in service again this year, thus denying access to the remaining Tbar, the "High Noon". So we were left with about one fifth of the facilities upon which to disport ourselves, which has its limitations for the recreational/serious skier. So what? you may say. So why, I say, shouW we have to pay a 100% Ki pass fee for a skifield operating only 20% of its facilities? I know that many skiers agree with the broad sentiments of what I have said, although few have bothered to complain, as I am, at the suggestion of the person who fleeced me of $36.00 initially. Some more examples of Victim Pays, perhaps? I have no doubt that the owners/managers of Turoa Ski Fields have plenty of excuses for their extortionate activities, but surely we are entitled to old-fashioned value for money.

M.D

. Collins

In trying to justify the continued existence of a dam across a natural watercourse that carries the entire run-off from Rangataua a couple of your correspondents have recently claimed, in letters to the Editor, that this man-made obstacle to the natural flow of water has no effect on the high water table in Rangataua because: "the dam in question is 38 feet below the mean level of the township". A 'mean' measurement (as opposed to an 'average' measurement) is defined in the dictionary as: "the midnoint between two limits or extremes. i.e. half way between the highest and lowest points". Using this form of measurement and argument there is no reason why Bangladesh and the Ganges delta should be subject to regular flooding because the 'mean level' of the Indian sub-continent is over 14,500 feet above sea level, i.e. half way between the Bay of Bengal and the 29,028ft summit of Mt Everest!

'Aquarius'