New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, JULY 18.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4780, 18 July 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, JULY 18.

Some attention has lately been directed to the possibility of a destructive fire taking place in Wellington, and there has been a good deal of public discussion as to the best means of preventing such a calamity, and of controlling or extinguishing a fire whenever such might occur. The telegraphic summary of news by the mail, published in New Zsaland Times, tolls of a tire which lately took place in a Canadian town; the destruction caused by which was great and widespread; and despite the excellent water supply in the flat portions of this city, and the acknowledged efficiency of our volunteer tire brigades, it is easy to comprehend how, under certain circumstances, a fire of very great extent might at any time occur in Wellington. With these matters in view, it may not bo out of place to make a few remarks and suggestions on the subject.

It is well known that one of the English insurance companies doing business in Wellington, after having done a large business and taken considerable premiums iii the place for many years, has withdrawn from taking risks in one portion of the city, that which its authorities doubtless deem the most" dangerous in regard to fire.' The action of .this company cannot be gainsaid as a matter of right on its part, though by some it may be deemed ungenerous ; but that action deserves the consideration of property-holders, as indicating the strong opinion of the company's directors as to the nature of the risks here. This is not the first time that the risks run in Wellington of a destructive fire have been pointed out in the columns of this paper, nor is it the first time that suggestions have been made in the matter. At the cost of repeating some things that have been formerly written, however, we desire to make a few plain statements as to what ought now to bedone tolessen those risks as much as possible, finding quite sufficient excuse in the magnitude of the interests at stake for any iteration which may occur. In the first place, for the better prevention of that spread of a fire which leads to such disastrous ' calamities as that which has happened.in Canada,. it... is absolutely necessary that the roofs of houses and places of business: should be formedof iron, orsomeother uninflammable material, and the city by-laws on the subject of building should in this direction be vary strictly carried out. Very useful by-laws have been enacted, but they have not been 'properly enforced,; arid although ■ these by-laws undergoing, or have ( undergone, revision and improvement, they will beperfectly useless if allowedtorerhainpractically inoperative. gEritheiiextplace, forthepurposeof preven"tion as well as for extinguishment, the immediate completion of a store-water reservoir is necesaary,~as well as: the laying; Idown of. frequent hydrants along the' streets not now provided with them." The present volunteer fire brigades should be amalgamated into one brigade, subdivided into four companies, each com: pany having under its direct charge ai .'particular portion of the city, with .'a 'station situated therein. This would, in many cases, where a fire, for instance, away from the present stations, enable a small force to be present at the. earliest possible moment, andJii-'is well' known that it is/ at, the earliest possible; moment that the danger of fire spreading* is best avoided.; The brigade should have a paid superintendent, and a sufficient retaining fee should be allotted'to secure the services for organisation and drill of a Icaptain, lieutenant, and) engineer' for each company. A fixed sum per hour should be payable to each member, of the brigade on the occasion of hi 3 services being required at a fire, and a bonus might be given to the company first on theground where the fire occurred. This latter would lead to rivalry in quickness and efficiency, but would not cause a want of 'United discipline, as all four companies would be under one control. There should be four engine stations—one at : Thorndon, -one on the reclaimed land, and two at .Te Aro. The station on the reclaimed land should have a tower sufficiently high for a watchman, who would be at his post all night (as in Dunedin), who could see over the greater part of the city, and could notify by a bell the -locality in which a fire had broken out. Indeed, in this connection the advisability of uniting the various stations arid the police stations b'y' telegraph might be considered. Each station should have a readingroom, and apartments attached to it, which might .be occupied by a member of the brigade rent free, who in return would keep the plant in readiness every evening, so that on the alarm of afire nothing would remain to be done but to throw open the doors where the gear was kept and make a fair start. An arrangement might also be made with the keeper of the nearest livery stables, by which a, couple of horses could be kept ready harnessed from daylight to dark, so that no time should be lost were the use of them required. The cost of all this might fairly be borne by the city arid the insurance companies doing business within it. In justice to these latter it may be pointed out that the insurance companies have provided the present fire brigades witli most of the plant they possess, and also subscribe some hundreds a year towards their expenses. In doing this the companies only consult their own interests of course, and as a matter of fact the money is in reality paid by the insurers. Unless the city contributes, those who do riot insure obtain all the advantages of the brigades without any cost, or, in other words, their property is protected at the cost of others. These suggestions, we may say at once, are made in the interests of the members of the fire brigades as well as of the city. Their services in the past have been in many cases almost invaluable, and it is right that in the future those services should be recognised as much as possible. If these suggestions be followed up by practical action on the part of those whose duty it is to take such action, the object of writing then will have been gained. ______^__^