The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 4, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1052, 4 June 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 4, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

It is some three or lour years siuce we prophesied a conflagration similar to wuat took place here on Sunday morning. We urged upon the local autoority to organise a fire brigade and pul down fire sumps in the main thoroughfare and other congested areas, in order to check a serious outbreak of fire. We also pointed out that nothing could save the buildings in Main Street unless something of this nature were done, once a fire broke out. Our appeals have fallen upon deaf ears and to us aud possibly to many of our readers the subject of fire prevention has become nauseating. There is no necessity to wait for a high pressure water scheme—fire sumps aud a manual engine would be sufficient to cope with any outbreak in Foxtcu. The insurance companies would be justified in refusing a risk in the main thoroughfare unless the people meet them in the matter of fire prevention. Had it not been for the brick wall at Perreau’s, aud the gallant aud strenuous efforts of a lew men who held the flames 111 check from the partially dismantled adjoining building, the whole block would have gone. As it was, it was touch and go. It is the largest conflagration experienced in Foxton and one that should have been easily confined, with fire fighting appliances, to the building in which the outbreak occurred. We hope the Council will now seriously take up the question of the formation of a fire brigade. There are plenty of able-bodied young fellows who would willingly and gratuitously give their services and the public aud fire insurance companies would render financial assistance. At a cost of ,£6OO an effective scheme could be formulated. Will the Council consider the matter? It not, a public meeting should be convened with a view to taking the matter in hand. We extend our sympathy to those who have suffered loss and whose businesses will be dislocated for a time. No doubt the owners will lose no time in re-erecting more substantial premises then those destroyed— structures that will be an ornament to what is the most important business centre of the town.

Excepting Mr Healey’s shop and dwelling and the Methodist Church, nearly all the buildings destroyed were old-fashioned, illappointed and in no wise models of architectural beauty. In fact one or two of them should have been condemned ere this. The small insurances are evidence ol this fact. Although the new buildings to be erected will mean a considerable outlay of capital in excess of the insurances, we feel confident that money so spent will be profitably invested. We heard one man remark that given the opportunity he would buy a section and willingly invest money on an up-to-date structure and it wiii be louud thai the demand for new premises will justity the erection oi substantial edifices.

A word ol praise is due to those who so willingly rendered assistance to salvage goods and hold the flames in check. They showed out in marked contrast to those who criticised at a safe distance.

Our Palmerston evening contemporary commenting on Sunday’s conflagration says: “The risks taken by many towns m New Zealand are simply astounding as instances ol short-sightedness, and it is only such catastrophes as the one which has visited Foxton which arouse communities to the danger they run from leaving their business premises unprotected from such an ever-present source ot danger. Foxton has learned a very sahita-y lesson, and we trust it will los no time in pi. u.iug in it. Another conflagration might mean a very ■ much moie serious thing for the town. The formation of a Volunteer F'ire Brigade should not be a very difficult matter. After every fire in the town Foxton rises up and agitates tor a brigade and a water supply, but the agitations of the past have ended in nothing being done- Admittedly the question of a water supply is a somewhat difficult one. but its urgency, as illustrated by Sunday’s happenings, should spur the residents of the town to immediate action, and we trust belore many days are gone that some practical steps will be taken to remove the standing menace which has existed for so many years.’’