The Feilding Star TUESDAY, APEIL 17, 1888. Fire

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 110, 17 April 1888, Page 2

The Feilding Star TUESDAY, APEIL 17, 1888. Fire

* Off Saturday we referred to the possibility^wbich existed that the Insuraace companies, holding fire risks in Feeding, would raise their tariff of premiums in consequence of the numerous fires which had taken place within the last few years, as an incentive to householders and others to assist at the meeting to be held in the Foresters' Hall to-morrow night. We will now, briefly, present another aspect of the subject, by which an appeal is made to that better side of human nature which is the antitheses to mere self interest or selfishness. By adopting such means to prevent fires as are within the limits of the power at our disposal, by making preparations to meet and combat a fire at its beginning ; by checking its progress when it has obtained a firm hold of a structure ; by saving firniture or goods from the burning, as well as the adjacent buildings, and, most important of all, of saving human life when endangered by the flames, we will be performing noble acts which not only raise men ia their own esteem by the consciousness of well-doing, but in the esteem of | their fellowmen. Who is there who ! has not admired the gallant fellows that we have seen rendering such noble work at every fire we have had in Feilding ? For cool-headed, well directed energy, these men could not be surpassed, even by the best trained Fire Brigade in the colony. The only thing lacked perhaps was a recognised authority or chief, but generally, we have observed, one or two men were quietly put in that position, and their orders promptly obeyed and executed. When there exists such good material to work upon there should be no difficulty in forming a permanent organisation composed of men who will voluntarily undertake to hold themselves in readiness at all hours to go where their services, either as a Fire Brigade or Salvage Corps, are required. It will be the duty of the meeting to consider what will be the most useful, while, at the same time, the most available form for the organisation to take; also the best means of calling the men together; how to give the alarm ; and by whom that alarm is to be given ; and how to create a revenue to pay necessary expenses.