LIGHTING FIRES IN THE OPEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 627, 4 May 1882, Page 2

LIGHTING FIRES IN THE OPEN.

To the Editou. Sxn,—l see by your report of the Council meeting th’t the application I made on behalf of the firm I represent here, for liberty to light a fire in the open air for .. the purpose of tyring wheels for a limited time, was refused ; I hope you will therefore allow me, through your paper, to make a few remarks on Councillor Harrison’s high flowing language re the same, as he appears to be the leading spirit in . ■, this matter. In the first place, I think his remarks about our firm being quite able to put up a furnace is fjuite uncalled for, as no onejjdoubts but that they are quite able to put up a dozen if they required them. But as the price of everything is regulated by the cost of production, it is

only On this principle that any scnsule firm would go. I have been connected with the working of furnaces for the last twenty years, and I think I ought to know something about the working of tht m ; and I can assure the Council that it takes as much fuel to bring up a furnacb to a working heat as would heat four pairs of tyres in an open fire. Now, if we could always get that amount to do at one time well and good ; but as this would only happen about once for every ten times we would have to light up for one pair, it would considerably raise the cost of production, a thing by all means to be avoided. Further, Sir, I would like to know if, in the event of my putting up a furnace, will the Council give me a guarantee that—when the sparks from the I chimney, propelled by a strong current of air through the flues, fly over amongst the I loose straw in the stable yard of the I Central Hotel—they will not pass a bye- I law prohibiting the use of furnaces in the I town? Councillor Harrison raves about! disastrous consequences. I challenge him I to reply, through the public Press, to the following questions :—lst. Did he ever I see or hear of a conflagration caused by a fire lighted for such work ? (Name time and place.) 2nd, Will he name another firm, large or small, in all the Austral- I asian Colonies where such a bye-law is in force ? 3rd. How many furnaces have been built in Ashburton since this bye-law I was put in force ? 4th. Were the furnacea (so called) in this town previous to that time, used in preference to open fires, I ! or, in the case of some of them, were they

used at all ? In conclusion. Sir, I wil

' make this offer to Councillor Harrison, seeing that he is an authority on furnaces, . that I will give him L2O, his highest to put up one for me, and as soon as it is proved in good working order L I will give him a bonus of LlO, and think I have then got a bargain. Hoping you will oblige by inserting the above, I am, &c., Pete a Walker.