The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1511, 19 December 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1878.

Once moro, find on the recurrence of the anniversary of its first mention, the subject of an increased water supply for fire prevention, has been brought before the public. Twelve months ago Mr Superintendent Harris placed before us in such plain terms the necessity which existed for increasing our applhmccs for fire extinction, that resolutions for the procuring of a water supply wore unanimously passed. After the manner of Christchurch, when dealing with a public question, people were all enthusiasm at the start, but have gradually allowed their ardour to cool, until they find that twelvemonths has elapsed, and nothing has been done. Mr Superintendent Harris, it appears to us, hit the right nail at the banquet on Monday, when ho said that the public are apt to place too much confidence in the brigade. Hot that wo for one moment mean to say that that confidence, which undoubtedly does exist, is misplaced or undeserved. On the contrary, wo have had proofs over and over again of the admirable manner in which the brigade has discharged the onerous and responsible duties it has accepted. But as pointed out by Mr Harris, this very confidonco has the effect of stopping the advance and improvement in the moans of fire extinction, placed at the disposal of the brigade, which should be continually going on. We feel sure that, as Mr Turner put it, the brigade will watch over and protect our property; but this feeling is apt to induce a false security and to make us indifferent about putting the brigade upon such a footing as is demanded by the increase of the city. For seven years no addition has been made to the plant fit the disposal of Mr Harris and the brigade. During that period the number of buildings erected has been something considerable. Blocks

in which gaps existed have been filled up and others built up, thus increasing enormously the risk of the spread of a fire. In every direction buildings have gone up, but yet nothing has been done to place the brigade in an improved position to cope with the increased risk. The first and greatest essential is of course an adequate supply of water. On this point Mr. Harris is emphatic, nor is he less plainspoken as to the almost utter destitution in this respect of certain quarters of the city. What is the position as put by him ? Why, that in parts of the city closely built, and of such material that a fire would spread with amazing rapidity, there is absolutely no water whatever at the disposal of the brigade. If a fire wore to break out there to-night the only supply the brigade could depend upon would l)o from artesian wells, which is about as unsatisfactory a state of things as possible. It must not be forgotten also that, if an unusual demand were made upon any one of the fire tanks, they too would be of little use. We have had already practical experience of this in the case of the Cashel street fire. Our readers will see, then, that there is great force in what we may call Mr. Superintendent Harris’s text, that the citizens place too much confidence in their Brigade. We have lost a whole year. During that time wo have advanced hardly a step, and the recurrence of the anniversary finds us as far oft the practical answer to the request of the Brigade, through their chief, for aid in their task of saving property as wo were twelve months ago. Fortunately the town has been spared any very serious fires during the period, but there is no knowing when one may break out in the heart of those unprotected quarters of the city to which we have referred, and spread ruin and desolation around. The work of the brigade is onenous enough, but it is rendered doubly so when they are hampered in the discharge of their duties the absence of proper appliances. The matter is in the hands of the City Council, who we trust will not longer delay bringing it to a practical conclusion, and remove the one great drawback to the thorough and complete efficiency of the brigade. We possess the officers and the men : what is wanted is the means of fire extinction. This can only be supplied by a well considered scheme of water supply reaching those parts of the city which on account of remoteness from the river or the fire tanks now existent are practically at the mercy of fire. Enough time has already been wasted in useless discussion; it is now necessary that action should be taken, and that decisvely. Unless the Council make up their mind to grapple with, and solve the question of water supply without delay, the citizens as, being so deeply interested, will have to take it up. We trust, however, after the very outspoken and emphatic language of the Superintendent of the Brigade, the Council will set seriously to work, and that before next anniversary Mr. Harris will have his hands strengthened by an efficient water supply being placed at his disposal.