GISBORNE FIRE BRIGADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 443, 14 June 1902, Page 3

GISBORNE FIRE BRIGADE.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir, —Mr W. Fraser has evidently misunderstood me. Possibly I am a grumblor and not too keen on giving assistance where I ought to do so. But Mr Fraser should not make the mistake of thinking that it is my character that is under discussion. The facts, please, are in point. I would be very sorry indeed to make an attack on the Brigade, whose good services I fully recognise. lam prepared also to admit that to have taken the manual up to Mr McKinley’s fire would have been useless labor. What I wanted to find out really was whether the Borough of Gisborne was now located at the old shed at the Read’s Quay Point, in which case I was going to suggest that the champions of that dirty little spot should obtain the old building for Corporation offices, rat . destructor, eto.

Since writing my letter I have been informed that there was a good muster of the brigade in the lower part of the town on the morning of the fire. A strong blaze was showing for nearly half an hour after the alarm, and yet no attempt was made by the brigade to cover the mile along the main road, or only a short distance from Mr Fraser’s own house. Those are the facts, and my inference was that even the brigado had got their minds soaked with the idea that they might as well go back to their beds as bother about the upper end of the town. Mr Fraser now assures me otherwise, and I gladly accept his assurance, while still admitting that Ido not understand. Should there not be provision in such a case for some of the firemen to muster at the firo ? The manual could not have been of service, but it was possible that good service might have been done by the firemen. Mr Fraser’s suggestions are good ones, but I was not challenging the effioienoy of the brigade.—l am, etc., West Exp.