THE LATE FIRE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 985, 4 March 1881, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

> The fire that occurred on Sunday evening last, an 1 which for the want of appliances had literally to burn itself out, brings forcibly to our min I the piteous position the town is in for some extinguishing appliance with which an attempt, suec*»sful or futile, could lie male to stop the dread agent. We do not know if anyone in particu ar is to blame for the present state V things, the fact, however, remains that, for the safety of onr pr iparties not a single article is provi led, Oi n the town ha I buckets a d other appliances of a orimitive character, but like the good old times inva disappeared, an Iwe are now left completely at the mircy of the dimes whenever they may appear. As the matter is one that will admit of no delay. we suggest that a pit die mntiig hr at once convened to take such steps a* may be deemed under the circumstances t.hi wisest. The following letter published in a lute n amber of the Australasian ’ miy be of interest

“Sir,—My attendon having been directed to the recant fires in your district, I venture to ask you to allow me to trespus a li-t’a on yur spue while I inform your readers of a portable and inexpensive little engine which I have seen in frequent Use by the gallant army commands 1 by Ga|itain Shaw: C (!. It is technically known as iho * Lon lon Brigade Hint Pump,’and, though it is ve'y light—i,cm he carried about an I worked ny a lal or female—yet so powerful a jit i< discharged that no fire, if attacked at its i ceotion, can live tin ‘er it. Only water is required to supply it j dirty water will di passed fr-on the nearest vessel on an emergency. This Mil keep it going until further hj Ip can arrive, whe i, in ail prob ibility, no further help will be needel From Captain Shaw’s last report, I glean that o it of 4.199 London tires during 1878 up fewer than 2 543 were ex i 'guishe I bv the London Biigale Hand Pump. Although so copiously alontel by the L mbm Fire Brigade, the Lou lon Brigal; find Pimp forms part of the fu nitu'-e o f ra ist of oar hospitals, public and private establishments. The cost of the machine is, 1 believe, only th ee or four pounds, an I the wonder is that so economical and effi dent means of protection is not more generally adopted.—Yours. Ac., Leonard Millfr, E li tor i f the Fir.man. 154 Westminster Biidge-ma 1. London, December 30, 1880.