THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1866.

Grey River Argus, Issue 90, 9 August 1866, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1866.

Tpp telegram we published on Tuesday moniing, ann.ojiDicjng the destruction of twenty shops and*fraiklings in Nelson, ought to convey a warning ta the in^ JiaWfeints of Greywputh that should not" be^neglected. Nothing is more possible than that the positions, might have been reversed — thatthe live might have been here instead .of aFNelson, W« have so often written about .the necessity of protection against five., that Aye ar.e almost tired of urging the inhabitants to bestir themselves in this most necessary and important matter. We confess that the apathy or carelessness which appears to, exist on thjs subject is to us most astounding. It is not often that people are ipdiffevent about the safp.ty of their, pi-operty, but certainly the inhabitants of Gveymouth ' appear to care little whether their goods and houses are safe or not. .We earnestly wish we could convince the public of ; the blind and wilful folly of their conduct, We don't know that we can use any arguments stronger than those we have done before. But perhaps the fire that has caused such a serious destruction of pvo w pevty at Nelson may serve .as the text of another appeal to the people' of this, town. And the only sermon we can preach is tp point to the long list of buildings,, and the largo amount of property that have been swept away in a few minutes by; a resistless fire. If the perusal of the telegram published in another column of this paper does not induce the owners 1 of property in Greymouth tg> take prompt measures for providing some protective machinery against five — we can only say that they desewe to fall the victims of their indifference. « We will suggest what we think ought to be dove. Let the- Magistrate be requested to convene a public meeting in some large and central place, at which the feelings and opinions of the public as to the best means to be adopted can be ascertained, and the names of all persons willing to serve in a Fire Brigade can -be enrolled. Let a subscription be got up there arifl.,..then, an active Committee appointed, the* town thoroughly canvassed for subscriptions, and a suit-able-engine and appliances be sent for at once. If the- inhabitants would only be heartily in earnest about the matter* they might in ashort tiuie be in a position of comparative safety from fire. Water in ample abundance flows close to our very doors, so that it would be difficult to imagine a town more favorably circumstanced for the efficiency of a Five Brigade; We have no doubt that the Government would assist the public in the fovmatiou of a Brigade, by contributing to the funds, c\nd gvanting a site for the engine-house. The Hokitika people were-D.pt long in organising their Brigade, when once the matter was stai-ted, and there is no reason whyGreymouth should not,, in a month'stime, be provided with a five-engine and a good and efficient' Brigade. We trust, therefore, that the Greymouth people 'will not, lose an unnecessary day in" this most important business, for, as we have before said, there is -absolutely no security Whatever that iv a few hours the^vhole town may not be destroyed by fire.