Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, WEDNESDAY, 11th JANUARY, 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 212, 11 January 1865, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, WEDNESDAY, 11th JANUARY, 1865.

Conflagrations, attended with the destruction of a vast amount of valuable property, having recently occurred in several of the neighboring provinces, it appears to be time that the Hawke’s Bay public were aroused to a sense of the insecurity of the town, and great danger of such a calamity extending to a fearful degree, should it take place in our midst —particularly if this should he among some of the crowded wooden buildings in certain parts of the town.

The science of statistics informs us that these things (and, indeed, .all others, however they may seem to be the result of chance) occur with a certain degree of regularity and uniformity when extended periods of time are taken into acount. Indeed, if this were not the ca#e, there would be no fbun-

dation for the kindred science of Insurance. No company could be established to take risks if nothing like a certain result could be looked for in a given time, and in a community of a certain number. That the calamity of a destructive fire may be long averted from our town and neighborhood, we ardently hope, yet in the nature of things it must appear sooner or later, and what we now wish to impress upon the public is the almost unguarded and unprepared state in which such a disaster would find us.

It has happened, providentially, in the several cases that have lately been described in the columns of the public press that there has been but little wind blowing at the time, and in the latest instance, that which has taken place on Lambton Quay at Wellington, there was an abundant supply of water, yet in spite of these not always to be expected favorable circumstances, we find that no less than eight houses were demolished, and other property to a large amount destroyed. In Napier we cannot expect such favorable circumstances to occur, at least in those parts of the town where fires would prove most calamitous. We must now expect some months of dry—perhaps very dry—weather, and, iu this place, water is scarce to a proverb, the nature of the formation of the superficial strata of the earth being here such as refuses to retain the rainfall, and its hilly character permits of water being obtained in most instances only at great depths. True, there are a few exceptions to this rule, and they have been taken advantage of. We have at least three public pumps, but it is to be feared that the water to be supplied by either of them, even supposing them to be near the required place, would be altogether inadequate to the quantity demanded. Again, we are provided with a lire engine, and it seems to be well taken care of. We sometimes see it out to test its being in order in case of need, although, providentially, there has not been, as yet, any requirement of its services. While on this subject we cannot refrain from noticing a fallacy into which many fall on the subject of insurance against fire. When hearing of the destruction of property, the question arises, “ Was it covered by insurance ?” and it the reply be “ Yes,” a feeling of satisfaction results, as if there had been no actual loss after all. This is no doubt a great error. The loss is the same, not, indeed, to the insured, but to the public; a check is given to progress: energy talent, and labor have to be applied to repair damage, instead of to produce and advance, although the benefit to the insured individuals is everything to them.

There doubtless needs in this town a combined association in the form of a brigade, (such as is in course of formation at Wellington,) whose business it should be to expect fires, and to hold themselves in readiness to act in unanimity under a guide, in case of their occurrence.

Insurance Companies should impress more frequently and forcibly upon the public mind the necessity of insurance, and, if possible, hold out the inducement of a more moderate rate on certain kinds of property. To the public we would add:—Be prepared for the visitation—be provided against it.