A successful collaboration with international director Bernd Benthaak followed with La Traviata and Nabucco. Die Fledermaus was the last before his retirement.
We'll never see his like again. Thank you, Derick, from all who love our beautiful Royal Wanganui Opera House.
LEONIE SYMES
Westmere
Prison answers
The Government misses the deadline for the $800 million mega-jail to house up to 3000 prisoners at $100,000 per prisoner per year.
Should the tax-paying citizens be liable to pay for the misdemeanours of a group of people who, in most cases, have been given ample opportunity to correct their behaviour? No, they should not.
A couple of solutions to minimise cost of incarceration could be putting terms over six months out to tender. No need to build new jails.
If the successful tender came from somewhere else in the world, so be it. Think of the money this would save, maybe a spin-off effect would be you would get very little reoffending.
Another method may be to get the families of the incarcerated to contribute to the cost to keep these people in jail. Again, the spin-off may be a reduction in crime due to the family sorting out the offender so they don't get into that situation again.
I can imagine the do-gooders and bleeding heart brigade saying this impedes their human rights, but surely if you are in jail you have forgone any rights you may have had outside.
What about the victims?
MAURIE BECKETT
Whanganui
Pedal power
I hope Rosemary Penwarden was riding her bike to Wellington if she protested at the Petroleum Conference.
I hate to think she was using fossil fuels to get there.
RON POCOCK
Springvale
Giant statue
I read in the gospels many years ago of how a blind man was cured of his blindness and was told to go on his way and remain quiet about it.
He was so excited, having received his sight, he shouted it for all to know.
So it was with me when my 46-year-old son, who had been on a death sentence, was miraculously cured. Much prayer and fasting was done, pleading for a miracle — and our prayers were answered.
So, like Martin Luther King, I too have a dream — to acknowledge the greatness of my Lord who gave my son his life back.
How about erecting a giant statue of Christ over our town? It has been done in other places — in Rio, in Lisbon. Giant statues are nothing new — Ohakune with its giant carrot; Paraparaumu with its giant statue of the Virgin Mary; Paeroa displays a giant bottle.
Imagine walking down Victoria Ave and looking up at Durie Hill with a giant statue of Christ, placing our town under his protection. I can imagine what reaction I'll get from some quarters — the cynics will have a field day. There's my suggestion to my fellow Christians.
TED DOWNS
Whanganui
Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
