Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 184, 4 February 1895, Page 2

Correspondence.

A WATER SUPPLY FOR FEILDINGTO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— After yesterday's fire I hope the ratepayers will be alive to the necessity of obtaining a proper water supply. Had there been any wind to fan the flames no doubt the block as far as Brauiwell's would have been destroyed, but the Brigade worked wonders, and are to be congratulated one and all for stopping the lire with such a miserable trickle of water. I hope that the Borough Council will enforce the Building Bye-laws strictly, and not allow them to be evaded in any way as was done after the last fire in Manchester street, for after that fire the Boardinghouse was erected again on the "packing case" principle, with wooden external walls, and to do this I understand the building was not erected up to its full boundary, thereby evading the Bye-laws. If the Bye-laws are to be of any use for the prevention of fire they should be so framed that they cannot be evaded and should make it imperativs that outside walls (party or otherwise) whether they be erected on the boundary or ten feet from the boundary should be of brick or concrete, and not inflammable material. The enforcement of brick or concrete should be for the business portion of the town, aud for residences in close proximity to one another brick nogging or galvanised iron should be used. But, aa I have stated, while the Bye-laws are so loose that they can be evaded and buildings rebuilt in the town of the most inflammable material, these fires will be of frequent occurrence, and we will get more like Palnierston North every day. I am, etc., Observer.