FIRE AND WATER.

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

FIRE AND WATER.

The fire yesterday morning, a full account of which is published elsewhere, is a fresh illustration of the urgent necessity which exists for a water supply in the Borough, Although the Brigade worked splendidly and by their exertions saved a large amount of valuable property from almost certain destruction, yet the force of water at their disposal by the manual engine was miserably insufficient. This was made worse by the hose bursting in several places and thus reducing the volume of water to a minimum. With greater power available the Brigade could have confined the fire to the building in which the conflagration commenced. There will be a meeting of the Borough Council on Thursday next, and wo sincerely hope and trust that a movement will be made in the direction indicated. There may be a few burgesses who will object to any movement which, if carried to a successful issue, might cost them a little more either directly or indirectly, but we have reason to believe that a considerable majority are prepared to listen favorably to any proposal which would be calculated to ensure the health of the residents, the salvation of property, and a very substantial reduction in the rates of insurance. A water supply and drainage scheme will have to be carried out at some time or another, and there exists no valid reason whj 7 it should not be commenced now. Money is cheap, there is abundance of available labor, wages are at their lowest, and the necessity for the work is growing greater every day. If the ratepayers Lave to pay a few pence more they will raoro than save them iv other ways.