The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 744, 7 November 1876, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1876.

A few days back we published an account of the formal opening of the new Fire Brigade Station which has recently been erected on Cambridge Terrace. The liberality of the City, Council and the now defunct Provin-' cial Government in regard to the building, is worthy of all commenda-' tion, and the city may now congratulate itself upon possessing two very completely appointed station®. 3ut‘

whilst we say this, there is one very important element still lacking, which should, in our opinion, be supplied as soon as possible. And this, because without it, all the expense of apparatus, buildings, &c, and much of the energy and zeal of our Brigade may be rendered less effective. We allude to the great necessity that exists for an improvement, both in the mode of giving the alarm of fire, and the means used for that purpose. In a city like ours, where the Brigade is necessary, from the very formation of it, scattered widely, it is all important that every means should be taken to ensure their hearing the alarm at the earliest possible moment. Not only so, but it should. be so arranged that they may know without any delay, the exact quarter in which the fire is situate. Few whose duty calls them to fires in Christchurch, can have failed to remark how much valuable time is lost; firstly, in the alarm being imperfectly heard; and secondly, from the impossibility, unless in case of a very serious conflagration, of at once ascertaining in which direction the assistance of the Brigade is required. In a city where the greater proportion of the houses are built of inflammable materials, every minute is an object The delay of five minutes may cause not only the loss of much valuable property, but might even jeopardise life. A fire which, if taken in its earliest stage, would be but a trifling matter, becomes a most serious thing if allowed to burn unchecked for time, let that be only a few moments. Yet, in the majority of instances, time, which would be usefully employed in checking the spread of the fire, is lost in ascertaining where the fire is really situate. It is surely possible to devise some means whereby this may be avoided in future, and the Brigade enabled, so soon as the engine is horsed, to proceed at once to the scene. Unless this be done, we may build commodious engine-houses, and import the latest improvements in fire extinguishing apparatus, and we shall still only be able partially to cope with the enemy. We hope, therefore, that the Fire Brigade Committee will consider this matter, and not only endeavour to remedy the defect we have pointed out, but also make such arrangements for the improvement of the alarm as to ensure the majority at least of the Brigade being made aware of the existence of a fire as speedily as possible.