THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 542, 8 July 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1869.

It was only the other day that the residents in this town were suddenly convinced, in a most practical manner, of the value of a Volunteer Fire Brigade. On the occasion upon which a large block of valuable business premises was destroyed by tire, it was admitted that but for the exertions of the members of the Brigade, no one could say where the ravages of the flames would have, been stayed; and it was generally believed that the greater portion of the town would have been left in ruins. There waa then much praise given to the Brigade, and deservedly so, for their gallant conduct, and a great deal of talk as to the vigorous manner in which, the Brigade was to be supported and encouraged for the future, so as to add to their efficiency, and thereby endeavor to ensure the town against a similar devastation. And yet this short space of time has demonstrated how empty was all this talk, and how little could these promises of support be relied upon. It will scarcely be credited that already the residents have lapsed into their normal state of apathy on this most important question — that no help whatever has been given to the men who worked, so hard only a few days ago to save the property of the citizens, to encourage them to greater efforts for the future, or to recompense them for damage sustained or loss incurred on the last occasion. In all other towns in which Volunteer Fire Brigades maks equal efforts on behalf of their fellow-citizens it is the custom fur those whose property is saved, to testify their gratitude by sending in their cheques for considerable amounts, as donations to the funds of the Brigade, on the following day. We have known of this course being pursued on many occasions in Dunedin, where the entire apparatus required by the Brigade was furnished by the Borough Council, and agents of the insurance offices, as well as an annual subsidy paid. Frequently, after fires there, the working members of the Brigade had a considerable sum to divide among themselves from these donations, for the purpose of purchasing uniforms, &c., in place of those which had been injured at fires. It was expected that, on a smaller scale, the same course would have been pursued here, after our first great fire had proved the usefulness of our local Fire Brigade ; indeed, in the excitement of the moment, when gratitude for property saved was the uppermost feeling, we heard several residents declare their intention to send liberal donations to the Brigade ; but what is the miserable result 1 Those good intentions must have gone, like so many of their predecessors, to assist in paving a plaoe which shall be nameless, for they have not resulted in any assistance being given to the Brigade, or in any anxiety being shown to liquidate the debt, which was incurred for labor during the late fire. It will be remembered that on that occasion it was found absolutely necessary to employ a large number of men to work the engine, after the Volunteers had been exhausted, during the day after the fire to continue playing on the burning debris, and to engage special watchmen for several nights in case of another outbreak. The debt thus incurred amounted to close on LIOO, and on the Saturday the question was raised who was to pay it } for the men do-

manded their wages. It was clearly not the duty of the members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade to give their own labor and pay for that of others, and it was admitted that it was a debt which the Borough Council ought at once to settle. But here was the difficulty. The Council, although very willing to pay the amount at once, had no available funds. To solve the difficulty four gentlemen— Messrs Kennedy, Kilgour, Wickes, and Parkinson — came forward and collectively signed a cheque, upon which the Bank advanced the required amount. It will scarcely be credited that the citizens, as a body, have not yet come forward to relieve those gentlemen from the engagement which they undertook on thoir behalf. To those gentlemen individually thp sum is a small matter, but as a precedent they ought not to submit in silence to be treated in the way they have been, because, should a similar occasion occur, it will prevent any others from ooming forward and relieving the Council from a pressing necessity. We admit that it is the duty of the Borough Council to pay the amount, but in tho present state of their funds that is an impossibility. The Council also admitted this, and recently nominated a committee of citizens to relieve them of the responsibility ; but for some reason or other they took no action in tlie matter, although it would have been, at the time, a very simple duty to perform. It is certainly the duty of the residents to come forward and see that the money is at once made good to the gentlemen who so generously advanced it. We also admit that it is the duty of of the Borough Council to liberally subsidise the Fire Brigade, and to provide the members with all the necessary apparatus for the efficient discharge of their duties ; and were the Corporation in any other than their present embarrassed condiii m, we would most strenuously advocate this course. But now it ia useless, and will be for years to come. It, therefore, becomes the bonnden duty of the owners of propertj', as they are in most cases their own insurers, to take upon themselves what would be the duty of insurance companies, were there any here, and contribute liberally towards the funds of the Brigade. It is anything but creditable that, so soon after a great fire, the members of the Brigade should have to announce, as they do, in another column this morning, that unless the contributions come in more liberally towards the maintenance of the night-watchman, they will be compelled to dispense with his services. It is simply disgraceful that, after what so recently occurred, men in business, ownera of property, and hotelkeepers should be found, who refuse to pay the small monthly contribution required for the maintenance of a nightwatchman, and yet— but the announcespeaks for itself. These are matters which we recommend to the serious consideration of the citizens. They affect tha very existence of the town ; and it is to be hoped that some vigorous action will shortly be taken for the purpose of placing the Fire Brigade in the independent position which it is fully entitled to occupy.