The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1872.

Dunstan Times, Issue 510, 26 January 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1872.

Beneath the Rule of MaasxnsiEtY just the ten* is .mightier than the sword

Fire ! fire 1 A wild hurrying to and fro of excited people, a lurid glare of light from the sudden darting forth <1 flames, and in a moment, without the sighted war t; ig of i.ap >,i ling dan-

r,' il. pe Cl till CJim tUi-Sb of tile Mill)i r eve in changed to a scene of dislay and terror, ns men see their pi o •■rty, tlio accumulation of yiars of oimst industry, in clanger of spicily ■'iiihilation. Such was the terniyig experience of our townsmen, for a ief interval, on Monday evening 1 st, and although the dangerous ouirrak of tire was providentially mlinod, with comparatively little loss, d the greater •calamity averted. Tlie mrrow escape from wide spread cmi. i ignition has, for the time at least ■it a vivid impression on the minds fall owners of proper 1 y within . the Clyde municipality, that immunity from loss by fire and flame is not too

well assured, and that security of tenure of property depends mainly on their own pluck and energy, and a i. imky supply of water at a critical mo- | ( meat, rather on any precautionary !, ■reparations for danger. It is true ! chat Clyde possesses an advantage, oh- , tained-by few up-country towns, in , running streims of water throughout the township, but the suppy is flue- , tuating, and, under the capricious con- , trol of individuals, instead of under . a properly constituted authority, may, , as-likely a- not, he altogether wanting . ju-t when most sorely needed. Had ( the wa er been turned off from the ( town-race during the time of th“ fire , on Monday evening, as it was some , hours later; one half of the houses in Sunderland-street might very proba- ■ b'y be-now lying in ashes. Contemplation of this too evident fac, will doubtless incite the memhe-s of the ( Town Council to prompt action In ( the matie of the long talked of per- , manent water supply for the town- ] ship, and action th°'ein might also l>e permitted to expand in the direction o( a subsidiary arrangement for an or- 1 ganized, and hence efficient control of; ( operations for the saving of property, ! , on all occasions of fire. The desperate I ; zeal of individuals, and tbe well ■ meant, hut misdirected efforts of an , excited crowd in moments o f iieiil, | » ’• I are generally found to increase, rather , than allay danger, and evidences were not wanting on the late occasion, of the exercise of ranch superfluous energy that would have been bet’er expended under the control of recognised authorities Tlie formation of a fire bri ade need not involve much trouble or monetary outlay. The real power of such an association would depend not so much in numbers, as discipline and good accord, among a compact bodv of men ; willing, by regular practice, to make themselves efficient to dh-ect and control the crowd of eager workers assembling at the peal of the tire hell. A hook and ladder apparatus, plenty of buckets, a few axes, and some distinguishing badge, to be donned by members of the brigade at the first alarm of fire, would be all the working gear absolutely needed, and these the Town Council and Insurance Companies would no doubt readily supply. For the rest, an occasional evening’s drill by the members of the brigade would suffice. It would agreeably diversify the monotony of their leisure hours, and the healthy muscu'ar exercise incident thereto, could not he applied to abetter purpose. But all such preparation would be but as mere “ leather and prunella ”if the supply of water is not first ppimanently assured It. will be suicidal folly for the townsmen of Clyde to content themselves longer with fhe present makeshift arrang - ment, or flatter themselves t at, he cause a running stream of water is near y always running through the town-race, they m y safely reckon on its presence whenever a fire may chance to break out There should be no doubt on the subject, no trusting to a lucky chance any more. Every househo In- in the Municipality should be enabled to retire to his nightly resting place without the misgiving as to his and Ids neighbors pro, aredness to cope effectually with the gathering fury of flames.it ami menlsnotice. To this end tlie member of the Town Council have already sanctioned some preliminary proceedings. The safety of the town, of life, of property, is in their keeping. Tinconjoint influence of public opinion and the approval of the body ot ratepayers should now hasten the fuifi 1ment of a long-delayed duty. .

The first hitch in theelaboratcVogelian arrangements, blaeoncd forth to tlieworld as the great Public Works and Immigration Policy the Colonial Scheme of Colonisa! ion par excellence —the panacea of every ill of the body politic—has been already made pal-

pably evident. Jt is the old dramatic dialogue repeated : “ I can call spii-ita from the vasty deep. Why, so can I, and so can eyery man : But will they come when you do call for them! Tin; strong and lusty British workin in, the thrifty small capitalists, the 0 igible male and leraale immigrants ot each degree and station, who were to be attracted to the shores of New Zealand by th tidings of ample scop> for labor and a large exp D nditur- of public moneys, held wa.ri'y aloof, aid refuse to isten to fhe voice of thi charmer, “charm he never so wisely.” The failure of the scheme was predicted diuing the late Session, and its ■glaring defects full' demonstrated. It was argued that, the establishment of rival agencies would defeat the best intent,io* s, and that thereby the stream of immigration would lie checked in stead of promoted. The soundness of the argument was conceded, and Mr Stafford’s recommendation that a General Agency would best fulfil the requirements of the whole colony, was admitted to be most just and reasonable. But, as usual, any idea of com-raon-ranse legislation on the matter was overwhelmed by the ffiarof fomenting smouldering jealousies, by treading on the presumed rights and privileges of petty provinces. The provincial supporters of the Ministry would not. permit the fancied dignity of their local institutions to he invaded, ami hence the promised Bill to amend the Act was, from a Ministerial point ot view, discretely shelved until a more convenient season. The result is a threatened dead-lock in immigration arrangements. The rial Agents ahome are like so many touters, and proclaiming the attraction of his em ployers’ establishment, to (he detraction of all others; and the British dublic sagaciously seek the counsel and advice of other and less antagonistic guides and mentors. Mr.Y.,gel’s gigantic schemes remind one of the “ Magnificent distances” of certain merican cities. The street lines stretch fur miles in every direction; but the buildings are wanting; the details omitted, the filling in left for a future generation, In the appointment of Immigration Agents, Otago j is, according to usual rule and preee- j dent, to bo supremely distinguished, i We boast of getting from home the | best available efficient talent. We send thither our worst spec incus of braggart impudence and incnmpetency. An agent whose chief qualifications consist of a limited power of tap room oratory, a propensity to be hail fedo.v well met, with ev ry ‘chance companion ; may possibly cri ate in the limited circle within which be"may be tolerated ; a favorable idea that. Otago is a jolly pi ce for men not too much inclined 1 for work ; but as a reliable authority, a respected representative of the Province the recently appointed Otago Sub-A gent and Lecturer, cannot possibly exert any judicious influence. Under the present aspect of affairs a steady stream of immigration to the shores of "tago is the most unlikely event to hj ppeu.