New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 18, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 344, 18 November 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 18, 1848.

Incidit inSyllam, cnpiens vitare Charyfcdim.

There can be little doubt that, after the recent severe shocks of earthquakes experienced in this settlement, the buildings in future to be erected will be chiefly if not entirely constructed of wood. This material offers the advantage of cheapness and expedition in building, and security against the dangers to be apprehended from the recurrence of earthquakes. But these are not the only evils to be guarded against. If a fire were to break out in any neighbourhood where houses are closely collected together, its effects would be still more disastrous lo the unfortunate sufferers, from the inflammable nature of the materials, than the calamity from which we have so recently suffered. And what is more to he dreaded in accidents of this nature is, that the careful person is exposed to danger through the carelessness of his neighbour ; and that when once a fire breaks out in a principal thoroughfare if the wind is blowing strongly at ' the time, it is impossible to sa) r how far its ravages might extend. An effectual means of providing .against this evil would be, instead of weather boarding, to fill the spaces between the timbers of the external framings of the buildings with bricks, so that while the principal supports of the building were of wood,'^the use of bricks might check, if it did not altogether prevent the spread of fire. As a further security against accidents by fire, we think the Local Government should lose no time in providing the settlement with a powerful fire engine, and in forming a sort of fire brigade out of the armed police. The men might be trained to working the engifie and with a little drilling might be rendered very efficient. It is too late to suggest Remedies after the mischief has occurred, and the subject is of too great importance to be neglected. The British Government has sent out one powerful fire engine to this settlement which is under the charge of the military. But in a town almost wholly constructed of wood, and where the winds are frequently very high, in an extensive conflagration, or if two fires should happen to break out at the same time in opposite parts of the town, one engine would be comparatively of little use. We hope that the subject will not be lost sight of by the Local Government.

The operation of amputation of the thigh close to the hip joint was performed at the Colonial Hospital by Dr. Fitzgerald assisted by Dr. Monteith, on James Burton a blacksmith, well-known here, he is 48 years of age and bore the operation with very great firmness, it was the only chance left of saving his life, the disease was of very long standing, having begun 41 years ago and the thigh bone was very much diseased ; up to this time he has been doing as well as can be expected.