A heartfelt thanks
Like many I was saddened by the death of John Quilter of the wonderful Quilters Bookshop. How lucky Wellingtonians were to have this treasure in our town. For many years a sign of stability on Lambton Quay (previously on Plimmers Steps, later in Ghuznee Street), Quilters drew people from all walks of life and John, with a knowledge of rare books second to none, was courteous, kind, and helpful to all.
Here was a place where that calming “old books” smell gave one pause to take a wider view. Maybe there were magic moments when you spotted a book you had always wanted, or you enjoyed a word with John about the catalogue, a first edition of Tuwharetoa, an issue of Art in New Zealand, or had books for him to look at,etc.
I’m sure many will have had the feeling: “John’s in his shop, All’s right with the world.” Kia whakatō muri te haere whakamua: Quilters Bookshop was a place to appreciate that the book as an artefact can, in a very real and tangible way, bring past, present future together for us.
Thank you for everything, John.
Linda Pears, Karori the refinement of petrol for internal combustion engines, necessitating all the negative actions as listed by Cable. Peter Roser, Waikanae are a cornerstone step in the stealthy manoeuvres to extract monopolistic profit from an essential life-giving element.
Ways to protect public ownership and control could include:
1. Public bonds to fund high volume high quality underground pipes. These premised on public ownership and control.
2. Plumbers-drainlayers appointed to fix leaks with them accepting a five-year guarantee. 3. New housing and apartment buildings required to haver rainwater storage.
4. Porous ground surfaces around new housing and apartment buildings and throughout the city. 5. The planting of trees known for their ability to transpire groundwater to the atmosphere, eg manatu or ribbonwood.
Craig Palmer, Mount Victoria