SPECTATORS AT FIRES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 573, 11 April 1873, Page 2

SPECTATORS AT FIRES.

—o— A correspondent of the Canterbury Press writes:—Tho general public rather ike to go to a lire I don’t know why, but 1 know lots of steady-going ti.izens who will, t the 8 .und of the lirerbed. arise in the . e d of night, and run two or three miles on tho ch ince of seeing even a small conflagration. If such folk would confine themselves to being simply spectators, it would be no matter to anyone, but they will insist on being of use when there are perhaps hundreds of fire-devouring Riehar,.s in the field already In their endeavors to learn the origin of the lire—to get a good sight o' it, or save goods—they got in the way, and make tho lives of the firemen and police a burden to them for the time being. The attempts at salvage made by some of these beings arc sometimes superlatively idiotic. I saw one swivel-headed chunk the other night throwing crockery into the street to save it, and crying out wildly to others who were working, “K ep cool, for goodness sake, keep cool.” I could have incremated that folio w with delight and danced a i reak-do wii al 1 the time, 1 have one invariable plan at a five. I sit down ill the glare and cry. Son c> one thinks Dm suffering, and takes mo away to drink. The over zeal of some people might he cured by a little judicious rep irting. After giving the usual particulars of the lire and voting the thanks'of the community tithu Brigade and Police (which to speak tru hj they usually well deserve’, youv reporters might ald a few,.wor ts of praise such as the following:—“We observed Mr; Kabtaclegetting in everybody’s way acting like a drivelling idiot,” “Mr A, S. S. bullions, by his unceasing but utterly iiisam exertions, increased tho loss to hi N. E. Insurance Company I>y abou . 80' We hope he will eschew fires for the fu„iue. “At on**stage of tho proceo lings tho curiosity of seven larrikins became of such a character as to induce Mr. Superintendent Harris to order them tubes piirte I on. T A oder was obeyed with mist effect.v« results.”