The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1282, 29 April 1878, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1878.

Some time ago a promise was made by the Government to connect the Fire Brigade stations in Christchurch by means of the telegraph. Like many offers of a similar , nature, up to the present time, nothing practical has come out of the promise. Of the public utility of such a work being carried out, and that too without delay, there can be no doubt. To enable the whole force of the brigade to be concentrated upon a given spot at the earliest possible moment is to give the fire prevention body a good start in the race. Like the building of the now Magistrate's Court, to which we recently referred, the urgent necessity of this being done is so self-evident that it is matter for surprise that a work so comparatively insignificant as to cost in comparison with the good results arising from its completion should have been so long delayed. Wo hope that the matter will again bo brought under the notice of the Government with a view to its being soon carried to a practical conclusion. Whilst, however, desiring to touch upon the delay which has occurred, this was by no moans the principal reason for referring to this subject. Of late a new moans of communication lias boon developed. Wo allude to. the telephone, the working of which recent experiments has made familiar to most of us. It is now coming into use in business and domestic matters, and more recently still has been applied to the purposes of tiro prevention. Some interesting experiments took place at Ballarat a few weeks back in connection with the very matter wo have brought before our readers. The local journal, in speaking of the experiments conducted, says:— “ Some very interesting and successful experiment took place betweeu the city

and town fire brigade stations, with some of Mr. H. Sutton’s compound telephones. Captains Williams and Morris, with several other officers and gentlemen, wore present. The two stations have just been connected by a special line of wire, for the purpose of signalling and communication. Last week convox’sation was carried on very readily with the telephones, and the practical utility of the instrument as a means of keeping the stations within hearing of each other, and thereby rendering the brigade system even still more efficient, was very clearly established.” There is no reason why the Christchurch fire stations should not bo so fitted with telephones which would to a great extent, if not altogether, supersede the ordinary signalling. Further than this a lino might bo extended to the superintendent's residence and telephonically connected with the stations, thus saving the valuable time now lost in convoying the alarm by means of a cab. The expense of the lino and the instruments is but small. Were this done the Superintendent, immediately on the alarm being given to him, and the nature of the fire explained, could give orders which would perhaps result in more successful operations being undertaken by the Brigade than is now possible under the pi’oseut system. The freedom from mistakes which will bo ensured by the use of the telephones as compared with that of the ordinary instrument only, the saving which would bo effected, and the undoubted efficiency of the system, all seem to us to point to the one conclusion, viz., that the introduction of the telephone communication will make a new era in our schemes for fire prevention. As already pointed out, there is no possibility of any mistake being made in an order transmitted. The voice of the superintendent will be hoard as readily and distinctly as though ho stood beside the men, and the communication, it need hardly be said, is instantaneous. With the growing wealth and increase of buildings in Christchurch, it behoves us to take advantage of every opportunity which science presents to us wherewith to combat the enemy fix’e, and |hero wo think we have placed at our command one of the most potent we could well have. One great point about the scheme is that the expense is but trifling. The other advantages wo have already dwelt on, and wo now oxxly have to express a hope that in connecting the stations as proposed, the suggestion we have made will bo takexx into consideration, as also that with reference to the inclusion of the Superintendent's residence in the telephonic circuit. This is an all-important point. However well drilled and efficient a body may bo, the absence of the leader is always felt. The energy, the daring, and zeal are all there, but there wants the directing and controlling power. If the idea wo have mooted be carried into practical effect the power will bo present at the earliest moment though the Superintendent himself may be half a mile away. It will enable him to issue such ordex's as to ensure that before ho could by any possibility be present, measures will bo taken to check the spread of the fire as effectively as thoxigh ho wore in the midst of the Brigade. Wo coxnmend the suggestion to the authorities in the hope that so efficient axx agent in the matter of tiro px'evontion will not be overlooked when the time comes for establishing the long-talked-of telegraphic commxmication between the two fire stations.