The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1872.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 15, 17 January 1872, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1872.

The dream of fancied security from the ravages of fire in which the people of Nelson have hitherto been indulging was rudely dispelled on Sunday evening, when it was shown most clearly that the appliances at the disposal of the Brigade for extinguishing a fire are, if not utterly useless, in such a condition as to be altogether unreliable in a grave emergency. Of late we have become quite accustomed to the bursting of the hose whenever the Brigade has been called out,, but the fire upon which the water happened at the time to be playing, iuvolving perhaps no more serious consequences thau the destruction of a gorse hedge, has nob been such as to cause any serious alarm, and but little notice has been taken of the mishap. On Sunday night, however, it was a matter of the highest importance that a plentiful supply of water

should be brought io bear with promptitude upon the flames, and then the deficiencies of the hoses were hut too plainly apparent. The elegant fountains that rose so gracefully in several places at once from the fractured india-rubber formed an exceedingly pretty sight, presenting, as they did, all the hues of the rainbow as tho light from the blazing building shone upon them, hut those who owned property ia the neighborhood were not in a humor to appreciate the beauty of such scenes, and would have very much preferred to find that our boasted waterworks partook more largely of an useful aud less of an ornamental character. However, now that the fire is over, having fortunately been confined to the building io which it broke out, we feel that we almost owe it a debt of gmtitude for having been the cause of showing us wherein lay our weakness. We have beeu forewarned, and it will bo our own fault if we allow the cext alarm of fire to find us unarmed, but, if (hey wish to be prepared to repel the ravages of so formidable an enemy as fire, the inhabitants of the town must show a willinguess to put their bauds in their pockets. Tho amount necessary to provide the Brigado with efficient hoses, reels fitted to bear the additional weight that they would be required to curry were leather substituted lor india rubber, and the extra expenditure entailed by having to keep such hoses in order would not amount to a very large sum, and the trifle that each householder would be called upon to contribute would be scarcely appreciable did the whole of the members of the community to be benefitted subscribe their share towards so desirable an object. Between £100 and £200, we are informed, would suffice to purchase the necessary appliances while the keeping in order of leather hoses might probably entail au additional expenditure to that now iucurred of something like £25. Such an outlay would enable the citizens of Nelson to go to their beds at night in the full assurance that any fire that might break out could be speedily extinguished with the aid of an efficient Brigado and a plentiful supply of water. After the experience of Sunday night, is there one of them who can honestly say that he has this confidence in the appliances now at our disposal for preventing the destruction of the town ? This question we would follow up with another; would not the feeling of security engendered by the knowledge that we were in possession of the means of averting so dire a calamity as au extensive conflagration be cheaply purchased at the cost of a trifling sum of money ? A subscription list should at once bo set on foot by the Brigade, and those who are asked to contribute should bear in mind that not a day is to be lost, as the risk they are now running is almost as great as that to which they were exposed when dependent upon a miserable little engine. Each one must see this for himself and there is no occasion for us to enlarge upon the need that exists for prompt action being taken. It is gratifying to have to record that one of the Insurance Companies, as also one of our business firm?, has recognised the necessity of stirring in the matter without delay, and we have much pleasure in publishing the following letters that have been received by tho Secretary of the Fire Brigade :— N. Z. Insurance Company, Nelson, January 16. Mr. J. W. Wigzell, Hon. Sec. Volunteer Fire Brigade, Sir —We beg to enclose a cheque for £10 as a contribution from this Company towards supplying the Brigade with more efficient hose. We are, &c, Curtis Bjrothers.