THE FIRE AT KAIKOURA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 94, 15 January 1919, Page 6

THE FIRE AT KAIKOURA

Sir, —As a resident in Kaikoura,, and an eye-witness yesterday of the disastrous fire (tho second within nine months) from start to finish, and also as a sufferer by the total loss of personal property of mine stored at tho wharf, awaiting shipment to "Wellington, and comprising articles and documents which no money can replace (being n long series of letters; from my two soldier sons, written in Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, and Palestine, and photos and curioa in course of colla-, ti'/.i for the service of the Government authorities with regard to the pending work on New Zealand's part in the war), permit me to state the following facts: (a) Kaikoura is governed by a county council of nine gentlemen (most'of whom reside at long distances from the township) holding meetings once'a month. There is no "harbour board,'.' nor, indeed, \ any harbour there. (b) The wharf and all of the buildings thereon are the freehold property of the "council," who conduct the business of the port and wharf by an engineer, a county cleric, \and a wharfinger arid his assistants. (c) The "council" undertakes tho storage, and charge, of produce of _ various kinds, including shoep' and pigs, and also passengers'' luggage, furniture and effects, pending shipment to Wellington or Lyttelton, as required. (d) The township of Kaikoura is in a very beautiful and healthful district, devoted, almost entirely, to dairy farming and sport, but docs not possess at prosent any fire engine or ' other means 'of extinguishing firesgreat or Email—and tho small manual implement in use yesterday on the seashore would have been of no practical use -whatever, but for the fortunate arrival and intervention of the Cygnet (one of the two little boats which trade with"Kaikoura as circumstances permit), and whose captain and crew rendered throughout the day the most untiring and valuable assistance in keeping the fire within some limits, and, possibly, paved the'destruction of tho pier itself, and tho stoppage of all trade with Kaikoura for some time to come, and I hope that their sorvices will be fully recognised, both by the council and by the owners of the Cygnet.

I desire, Sir, to say nothing concerning the origin of tho fire until tho real facts have been ascertained, and officially reported upon, but I do protest, once more, upon tho serious position in which both tho lives and property of the resident ratepayers, and others, are placed by want of ■true government of tho township by the local body appointed and elected (by themselves) annually to govern it, and by the parsimony and (ns it seems to me) the want of common sense shown by that body, in not adopting measures ensuring tho safety of persons and property within its jurisdiction, and, in this particular case, the absenco of a fire-engine, which, had it been available yesterday, might have disposed of the trouble at the very outset, and saved thousands of pounds, besides tho risk of loss of human life and live stock.

As regards my personal loss, I intend to ask the local body to make it «ood (so far as this is possible),, and I trust this truly dreadful, and needless, occurrence of yesterday, following so closely upon the gigantic lire of April last, involving tho total destruction of. hotel and live sets of business premises (all in sight of an ample water supply), may bo tho -moans of rousing those who aro primarily responsible for the enfety and comfort, not only of

residents, but all who wish to visit a region so, otherwise, eminently attractive. Failing other means of influence, I appeal to your, Sir, to give publicity to the facts stated.—Yours, etc., FRED BROOKE, Solicitor, Wellington and Kaikoura. Lyttelton, January 10. (Masterton and Dunodin papers please, copy.) «