NELSON FIRE BRIGADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 29, 3 February 1874, Page 2

NELSON FIRE BRIGADE.

.. Wa have much pleasure in publishing twb l^tler-sf'that liavO feeen> received by Mr Lightfoot, tbe captain of the Fire Brigade, from two strangers who chanced to be present at the late fire in Trafalgar-sfreet. It must be highly satisfactory to the members of the brigade and, indeed, to the public generally, to find that the exertions of those to whom we so largely owe our immunity from fire has called forth such encomiums from unprejudiced persons. We earnestly commend to the attention of the officers of the Brigade the suggestions made by the Secretary of the Victoria Insurance Company with reference to tbe division of the town into wards, and the signalling the locality of a fire by tolling the bell a certain number of times. Tbe idea is not a new one, having been advocated by us before now, and we hope that it may be carried into execution without delay. By advertising the numbers of tbe wards and the blocks of buildings embraced in eacb, the residents in the town would speedily become acquainted with them, more especially if the recommendation of Mr Meares to furnish every house with printed slips containing the requisite information be acted upon. The following is the letter of Mr Meares : — To the Superintendent Nelson Fire Brigade. Sir — Having been one of the earliest arrivals at the fire this morning, I had an excelleit opportunity of forming an opinion as to the Nelson water supply, and aleo the working of your brigade. I need hardly say I was highly pleased at the former, and take this opportunity oi conveying you my hearty congratulations on the latter. I consider the promptness with which your brigade appeared on the scene of action was, when taking into account the slight alarm given, as astoniahing as it was creditable. The following suggestions, if not entirely eriginal, 1 trust you will consider not out oi plape ou my part in offering, but will accept them in the same spirit iv which they are thrown out. I would suggest that the town should be divided into a number of clearly defined blocks or localities, these localities to be indicated by a given number of tolls of tbe bell. Printed slips giving this information to be printed for distribution, so that at every heuse they may be kept posted up for reference. At each bell station Bame to be printed on easily read placards, a lamp being placed near them. A person on running to give the alarm would aecertain tho proper number of tolls to give, and having rung the alarm pro. eeed to toll the locality. The firemen living near the engine station would run to bring out the engine, while those near the scene of fire wouldfbe getting thjngs ready for arrival of the hose. I would also suggest it »s desirable that ropes be fixed so that the bells could be rung from tbe ground for while everyone would run to give an alarm, it is not everyone who would venture up a long ladder to reach the bell. The idea of the hose station in Trafalgar street is admirable, and might be improved upon by having a bell placed there, also as well as a second length of hose. These stations could not be increased too much. The shortness of my stay precludes the pleasure of a personal interview, ro I have hastily written out the above, and in conclusion I can only say" that I hope it wil be very seldom your services are required. . lam,&c, W. D. Meares, Resident Secretary. Nelson, January 26. The second letter is from Col. Gorton, who happened to be here at the time of the fire, and we feel sure that the complimentary terms in wbich he alludes to the discipline of the Brigade as a body, and £he courage displayed by the individual members will be fully endorsed by all who, like the writer of tbe letter, were eye-witnesses of the scenp, Pol. Gorton writes as follows :— To Captain Lightfoot, Nelson Fire Brigade. Sir— 'On the 26th instant it was my lot to attend the fire in Trafalgar-street, and sorry as I was to see a fire in so central a portion of the town, I was at the same time exceedingly gratified at the excellent manner in wbich the brigade under your command performed their work. I have seen fires in various parts of New Zealand, and I may truly say I never saw a brigade work more quietly, more expeditiously, and with greater pluck than the one you have the honor to command. The way fa whjph the men went up the passage near the Masonic Hotel with the fire nearly touching their faces very properly excited the admiration of all around, and has caused me to take upon myself the liberty of expressing my in wiiting to you on the subject. I am, &c , Edward Gorton, Inspector of Stores. Nelson, January 28 f 1874, [The ink with which the foregoing remarks were written was scarcely dry when the necessity for them was clearly proved; About 9 o'clock last night, the bells sounded the alarm, and at once a crowd was gathered in the streets, but no one knew where to go. Everybody was asking somebody else, " Where is it f but none could reply. The first ins|tinct was to nysh o£F in the direction of tfoe bell, byt so many belle were ringing that everyone was confused. JTorttfnateJy, the caijise of the alarm was trifling, co that it really was of no consequence whether the rush

was in one direction or the other ; but there is no knowing when it may be important to be quickly made aware of the precise locality of a fire, and as the knowledge may be easily attained with a little ordinary precaution, there is no reason whatever why that precaution should not be taken.]