Public Meeting

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 111, 19 April 1888, Page 3

Public Meeting

Pursuant to notice a well attended meeting was held last night at the Foresters' Hall. His Worship the Mayor presided, and opened the proceedings by saying they had been called together to consider what steps should be taken to prevent a recurrence of the fires which had been so numerous during the past few months Mr Macarthur said that as he had •uggested this meeting through the columns of the Fblldikg Stab, he* would now put his views before them. Things had arrived at a strange pass in Folding, when peiaons desirous of building houses in the more densely populated parts of the town were deterred from doing so by the fear which naturally existed of their destruction. Capitalists were prevented from investing their money, as they were afraid of the risk, and thus much money was kept out of circulation, which otherwise would have been spent in employing labor. It would not pay the insurance companies to insure property, and they would either raise the rates to an exorbitant degree* as had been done in Palnaerafcon, or would not take any risks at all. This would be yery awkward for mortgagers, for in that case where buildings were the security, the mortgagees would be compelled to foreclose which would mean a terrible sacrifice of property. Many would remember how some years ago, when they had a nightwatchman, there were no fires whatever, while of late years, when we have done j without, one, the average of fires has been very heavy. It was now high time to take steps to stop fires. The Mayor had suggested the appointment of a nightwatehman, ♦ but he thought it would be better to appoint a Committee, to report in fourteen days. In the meantime such Committee could make enquiries as to what was done in Palmerston and Hawera. We had the Makino stream which would be available for water during the greater part of the year, and when it ran dry, wells could be sunk at very small expense. It must be remembered a nightwatchman could not do all the work. A few men on the spot who understood their work, with plenty of water, could generally do an immense amount of good. Many attempts had been made to form organisations, but they had died out. Ec would repeat the time hod now come when insurance companies would refuse risks unless something was done. The place was getting a bad name for fires, and he hoped this meeting would do good. He thought it would be*, unwise and unfair that the expense should fall on the willing few who would subscribe, while absentees and others escaped. The main amount should be paid through the Borough rates. It was as well to pay the money that way as through the insurance. The Borough Council had power Under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1886, to rate up to Is 3d. It must be clearly borne in mind we can do nothing without putting our stoiads in our pockets. For himself, he would join iv any way by subscription and personal assistance, aud he Proposed, That it is the opinion of this meeting it has become highly necessary to take steps for the prevention of future fires in Feilding. Mr Carr, in seconding the motion, aaid he did not think it would be wise to increase the rates, as that would tend to depreciate the value of property iv the Borough. The Mayor then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr F. T. Lethbridge then proposed, That a Committee be formed to consider, and suggest the necessary steps to be taken for the prevention of fires, such Committee to consist of The Mayor (Mr Goodbehere), Messrs Carthew, Macarthur, Sherwill, Woratold, j Carr, aod the Mover, and to report at a meeting to be held at the same time and place ibis day fortnight. Mr Goßlizig seconded the motion, and was it carried. On the motion of Mr Macarthur, a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the Chairman, and the meeting adjourned.