Hawke's Bay Times, PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY. MONDAY, 18th FEBRUARY, 1867.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 454, 18 February 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times, PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY.

MONDAY, 18th FEBRUARY, 1867.

“ Nullius addict us jurare in verba magislri .”

FIRES—THEIR PROBABILITY AND OUR : UNPREPARED CONDITION. A conflagration —happily checked ; in its beginning—an account of which we give in another place, has at last visited Napier, and one that, but for : the fortunate conjunction of a host of favourable circumstances, must have : resulted in the destruction of tenfold , more than was unhappily destroyed on this occasion. These circumstances are briefly the state of saturation in which the late long-continued rains had left the shingles and timber of wooden buildings—the almost entire absence of wind at the time—the early discovery of the fire —the proximity of the engine to the locality, and the abundance of water at hand, com lined with the hearty good will of the persons who quickly assembled on the spot. It is to these circumstances, taken in connection, that we are able to report the fact of the fire being confined to that portion of the premises in which it originated, and the preservation of the other offices and dwelling-house, as also of much other property in the neighborhood.

We have on various occasions directed public attention to the probability, nay, we may say the certainty, uf occasional fires in a town such as ours, where all buildings are constructed of wood, and in many cases crowded together. Every person is not as careful at all times as he might be, and even where all due caution is uniformly exercised, accidents are liable to occur from unforeseen, and often unavoidable, causes ; and it is too much to expect so favorable a combination of circumstances as those described above to occur again. The fire may not be discovered in its earlier stages ; it may occur at a great distance from the engine-house, at a time when shingles and timber have been almost reduced to tinder by a parching and continued drought, and in a locality where water cannot be obtained. In such a case the property destroyed would be vastly greater than has been hitherto known in Napier, and the need of being prepared would be brought home to the conviction of many.

We have before indicated the necessity of possessing a more powerful lire engine than that now iu Napier, and also of one being located on the Spit, where the offices of the mercantile portion of the community are generally situated. Steps were initiated some six months since in this direc-’ tion, and a number of subscriptions promised conditionally on a certain amount of aid being afforded by the Insurance Companies and the Government ; but of late we have not heard any tiling whatever of the movement. If a large and powerful engine were provided for the more densely populated parts of the town, and located in the present engine-house, the smaller one we now possess might be brought on to the Spit, and placed in a cheapiy

constructed shed to be erected near the weighbridge, under the care of the police, so as to be ready when wanted. A branch brigade could also be easily raised on the Spit to keep the engine in working order and be always ready to use it, and, indeed to act as an auxiliary to the town bri- . yuc j s&iiii, as the little engine has aueauy (tune such good service, it would doubtless again prove its value,

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larger one in a distant neighbour hood.

While on this subject, we are constrained to say a word on the subject of insurance. The Companies, as a rule, charge rates of so high a character for the risks they take as to virtually prohibit many from insuring their property. This is great folly ; for we are sure that if due economy were exercised in the management of Insurance Companies, very much lower rates could be taken than are now demanded, and they would speedily find that a great increase in their business would be the result of such reduction. We have also to complain of one—and it need not be further indicated than that it is not the New Zealand Company—which, after taking, year after year, policies from insurers, have thrown up the policies and refused to renew except at a great advance of premium. This is, in our view, a positive act of injustice to those insurers who have hitherto patronised the company, and made considerable payments in the shape of annual premiums. We should rejoice to see a spirit of liberality manifested by the Directors of the Insurance Companies, which we are sure would be appreciated by the public and be a source of profit to themselves. Could not our colonial institution lead the way with advantage to itself as well as to the public ?