The Globe. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1596, 1 April 1879, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1879.

It is much to ho regretted that, after many years of amicable work together, anything approaching a difference should have arisen between the Fire Brigade and the Fire Police. The two 1 todies, working together for so long, have now arrived at a thorough understanding as to their respective duties, and the Police have always rendered good aonyice by keeping the ground clear for the "Brigade and seeing to the salvage. So far as can bo gathered, the little difficulty which has arisen springs out of a wish on the part of the Fire Police to ho altogether independent of the control of the Superintendent of tho Firo Brigade, and to ho only responsible to their own officers. To this end a rule has boon incorporated into those which have recently been signed by tho Mayor. But Mr Superintendent Harris, we think very rightly, objects to the change proposed. It must be borne in mind that at a time when large public interests, and perhaps lives are at stake, there can bo no standing on dignity. The Superintendent of tho Fire Brigade at a fire must be as absolute in authority as the captain of a ship. There must bo no division of authority; no second body independent of the Superintendent. For if there is, then comes, instead of order and discipline, anarchy and ill directed effort. There need be no sense of inferiority felt by tho Fire Police in being under the orders of Mr. Superintendent Harris. They are to a groat extent a salvage corps, and as such an adjunct—and a very valuable one too—of the Brigade. They are to all intents and purposes, though having a separate organisation, as much a part of the Fire Brigade as one of the steamer companies. What would become of the Brigade if one of tho latter asserted its independence. This, of course, is an extreme instance; but really when one comes to consider the matter, the case of Firo Police and the other one alluded to are much on a par. Wo are quite at a loss to know why there should be a change in tho existing state of affairs. No tangible reason is alleged for the desired alteration, and, as there are weighty reasons why it should not bo made, wo trust tho Fire Police will not press the matter. We feel sure that tho gentlemen who have aided the citizens so well for many years past will not, in a moment of pique, withdraw their services, and at tho same time we trust that they will see that it is obviously to tho public interest that all bodies of men co-operating on the occasion of a fire should bo under the orders of ono responsible head, so that any conflict of authority may ho avoided. It may be noted that in all cases of fire the regular police act on tho instructions of Mr Harris, conveyed to them through their officers. This shows clearly that tho necessity for only ono head is recognised, as the police are an independent body entirely, and do not, like the Fire Police, form part of tho Brigade. It is sincerely to be hoped that tho little difficulty which has arisen will be satisfactorily smoothed over, and that the city will still he enabled to retain tho services of so valuable a body as tho Fire Police.

The game of chess is a fine intellectual exercise, and has always been recognised as such. Of late years the game has been brought into prominence in an educational point of view also. In Germany it has been introduced into schools, and much good is expected from the habits of close attention and calculation it is sure to develop. Mr. Howard, of the Normal School, some time since drew attention to the advantages that would result if such a course were universally adopted. No doubt the generality of boys and girls would take immense interest in contests of this intellectual order, and would, in a perfectly agreeable and natural manner, develop their thinking faculties to a large extent. To all lovers of chess the progress of affairs in connection with the Chess Congress Tournay, about to be hold in Canterbury, will be found most intoresing. Numerous aspirants for the honor of holding the proud position of chess champion of Now Zealand will, we are informed, take part in the contest. A recent telegram from Auckland states that that province intends to send representatives. Messrs Benbow and Hullett have notified their intention 'of coming from Wellington. Mr, Charles Janion will come from Kumara, Mr. Hay from Dunedin, and possibly, Mr. Monat from the same place. The Rev. Mr. Ash, formerly captain of the Cambridge University Chess Club, and now of Riverton, also intends to put in an appearance. Probably other intending competitors will be heard of when the rules and conditions of the tournay are published. The Christchurch players are doing good practice, and it is most likely five will enter from this province alone. Much interest is everywhere felt in the ’movement. Australian papers are noticing with approval this first chess congress in the Australian colonies. Of course a considerable sum will be required for prizes sufficiently high to tempt players from a distance, and although the list of subscriptions is being well filled up, it is to bo hoped that the public will interest themselves as much as possible in the undertaking, and come forward to make success a certainty. The matter should bo one not only interesting to chess players, but to Canterbury settlers at largo, as a public spirited enterprise of this nature must always reflects a credit on the district to which it attracts general attention.