OUR LOCAL FIRE BRIGADE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3699, 23 May 1883, Page 3

OUR LOCAL FIRE BRIGADE.

[To the Editor of tick Daily Telegraph.] Sik,—lf I read your paper of last night correctly the Napier Fire Brigade is gointr to have a competition amongst its members on the recreation ground to-morrow. The Spit Brigade, I understand, is also going to have a similar competition at the Spit. Each and both, I have no doubt, will be high I .)' gratiiied with their own individual performance:}. Nobody beaten, nobody hurt, "Jim "beat "Tom," and "Bill" was indifferent, and "Maria" enjoyed the fun. Quite a family jubilee there will be to-morrow with our local "fire preventionists," and in the evening " good cheer" wi l ! do duty for everything. The public will have to " grin and bear." It can form no opinion as to how the brigades arc progressing further than bo guided by Tom's hurrahs when " Jim " beats his opponent. "Unexplained delays " at times when life and property are at stake will be as prevalent in the future as in the past, and every one will have to bow the knee to volunteerism and be thankful for small things and no more. Once upon a time the two brigades tried annual conclusions together, and with much benefit. The public subscribed liberally by way of prizes, and the good folks of Napier were delighted with the brigades. Time, it is said, works changes, and times have worked changes with the brigades. One becomes too much for the other, who, by way of mild and harmless retaliation, resolves never to again compete with its rival. " Too many shellbacks, who can stand them." The £3S;") of public money is paid all the same, and our local brigades are entitled to the greatest credit for its receipt and application.—l am, ifcc, Shell-back. Napier, May 23, 1883.