The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1896 THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 137, 9 December 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1896 THE FIRE BRIGA DE .

Although Feilding has had a long iminunit ftom fires of any great con- j sequence, y»:' the danger from that source no" only exists but is rapidly increasing with every day of the summer now upon us. We have been forewarned by th« Maories who are no mean weather prophets, that we are likely to have an exceptionally hot and dry summer. It behoves us therefore as prudent citizens, and sensible people not above taking and acting on information which, no matter what happens, can only be for the general as well as the particular good, to make wise provision to meet all the contingencies possible under the circumstances. The first thing to be done then ; is to join heart and hand with the officers and members of the Fire Brigade; to bring it iato a condition of strength and efficiency capable of coping with any conflagration which may arise at any moment. There is no use telling half truths. The people of Feilding, both business and private, have not' done one tithe of that which was within the limits of their powers towards helping the Fire Brigade. It is true they have given money with a free hand, but although " the root of

all evil " can dp much, yet the bone, J sinew, and intelligence of the members of the community are wanted as well | in such cases as may be expected ( should, by some fell accident, a fire | break out in the business part of the i town. In theory everyone, we feel assured, is prepared to admit the truth \ of this, and they will also confess that j unless the firemen are trained and ac- 1 customed to discipline their work is, J after all,' liable to be comparatively ) useless. Hitherto it has been the cus- j torn to expect the young men, employ- | ed in various capacities, to do the ■ main portion of the work, and, verily, to bear the heat and burden of the night as well as the day, without fee or"re\vard, but only with the vague hope that should their exertions prove completely or only partially successful, they should merit and receive the applause of their fellow citizens as a whole, and possibly some substantial recognition from those who have benefited by their services. What hus been the case ? These nien have in a large majority of instances where they have done splendid work received by scant prxise and no financial reward, for j where the last has been given it has j always been utilized to augment the scanty revenue at the disposal of the executive of the Urig.ide. The mm have taken nothing for themselves. This condition of affairs in a rising and distinctly progressive town iikc Feilding should no longer be allowed to exist, hihl we boldly call on every business man, no matter in what capacity, to take up the good work which i lies at his hands, and have the Fire Brigade put into a state of efficiency both as regards mvi and monfcy. Both are available and both should be forthcoming.