THE FIRE BRIGADES' DEMONSTRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 4266, 28 October 1876, Page 2

THE FIRE BRIGADES' DEMONSTRATION.

The Canterbury brigades have decided, not to - take part in the above. From the ‘Press’ of yesterday we learn that on Thursday evening the adjourned meeting to consider Dunedin’s invitation was attended* by Mr Sedcole, of Lyttelton * Mr Smith, of Kaiapoi ; and Mr Boys, of Bangiora, representing Christchurch. Several telegrams from distant brigades were read. Letters favorable to attending the demonstration were read from Timaru, Hokitika, Temuka, and Wanganui; but the Wellington brigades, and also Invercargill and, Thames brigades, were not favorable to the project. Nq replies had yet been received, from the Auckland, Kelson, Greymouth, and Blenheim brigades. The following letter was read from the Fire Brigade Committee : Mr Superintendent Harris.Chrigtalmrob. • ?’ Sir,—At a meeting f the Fire Brigade committee, held this day, the matter of brigades leaving their several localities to attend demonstrations in other parts’of the province or colony was considered, and the committee unanimously agreed that'it was very unadvisable that the practice should be continued. Whilst the committee have no desire to deprive the brigade of any enjoy nent or gratification these gatherings'may give, they feel it will only beneces sary to point out the eerious disadvantages attending the practice, to cause the brigade here to conaider the question well before accepting any invitation to join in such demonstrations away from their particular locality. The committee desire to draw i he brigade’s attention to the serious fire and loss that recently occurred in Melbourne, through the absence of the brigade at one of these gatherings, and it is thought that a similar calamity or worse might reasonably be expected to occur in any Now Zealand city, if the practice of leaving them to take care of themselves on such occasions be earned one, 'unless some provisioh is made whereby a certain portion of the brigade can always be depended upon at all times to be on the •pc*.' The committee will be glad if thb into of ,1

your brigade will give their serious consideration f° I? 0 take the suggestions thrown out in the friendly spirit they were offered, because they must see how serious a position the city would be in without its brigade should a fire take place in weather favorable to its spreading, such as wo fortunately have never experienced, and yet to which we may at any motnent be liable —I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant* S' -T Haskins, Town Clerk. ’ / *

A resolution was unanimously earned, that the united Canterbury brigades should! not attend, as the majority er the Mjpliil! were unfavorable. ’ / We have been requested to state in answer to a telegram published in the * Times’ this day from Christchurch that the Eire Brigades’ Demonstration Committee have received only four answers as yet outside of Otago, twg acceptißg, Hokitika and Timaru, and Iwo decumS^ therefore, at present the majority is not unfavorable to the movement. Referring to .th© extract from the * Lyttelton Times, we ihakaaiimtatipfl, was not sent to Tempka, inasmuch as the Demonstration Committee diet not know of existence of a-.Brigade '{there. Wa% ganui, as stated, wis not_favorable to Hhb demonstration. The only; replies. received, by the cOindiittee from ihi iQtigo are ffoftl La ; arid Milton-fcaH. decUniiig waint of appliancesnto p*ac-