FIRE BRIGADES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 11, 13 January 1873, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADES.

The following useful extract was quoted by Mr Samuel, & few days since whilst moving in the Legislative Council of New South Wales the second reading of the Fire Brigades Bill :—■ "It is now generally admitted that the whole force brought together to extinguish a fire ought to be under the direction and control of one individual.; By this means all quarreling among the firemen about the "supply of water, the interest of particular insurance companies; and other matters of . detail, are avoided! 'By having the whole force under the command of one person, he is enabled to form one general pian of operations, to which the whole body is ° : subservient ; and although he may not, in i the hurry of the moment, at all times adopt wjbai will afterwards appear to be

the best plan, yet it is better to have some general arrangement than to allow the firemen of each eDgine to work according to their own fancy, and that, too, very often in utter disregard as to whether their exertions may aid or retard those of their neighbors. The individual appointed to such a situation ought not to be interfered with, or have is attention distracted, except by the chief authority on the spot, or the owner of the premises on fire. Much valuable information is frequently obtained from the latter as to the division of the premises, the party-walls, and other matters connected with its locality. But, generally speaking, the less interference and advice the better, as it occupies time which may generally be better employed. " I need scarcely add, that on no account whatever should directions be given to the firemen by any other individual while the superintendent of the brigade is present; and, that there may be no quarreling about superiority, the men should be aware on whom the command is to devolve in his absence. '' It has often been to me a matter of surprise that so small a portion of the public attention should be directed to the matter of extinguishing fires. It is only when roused by some great calamity that people bestir themselves, and then there is such a variety of plans proposed to avert similar cases of distress, that an attempt to concoct a rational plan out of such crude, ill-digested, and contradictory masses of opinion, requires more labor and attention than most people are inclined to give it, unless a regular business was made of it. In Paris, the corps of military firemen are so well trained, that although their apparatus is not so good as it should be, the amount of the losses by fire is comparatively trifling, If the "whole experience of the country were brought together, and maturely considered and digeeted by persons competent to judge, I have no doubt that a system might be introduced suitable to the nation and to the age in whicn we live. Instead of hearing of the * dreadful losses by fire ' and the * great exertions ' made to extinguish it, all the notice would be, such a place took fire, the engines arrived, and it was extinguished."