The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, MAY 15 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 958, 15 May 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, MAY 15 1879.

The meeting held on Thursday evening last by the members of the Oaniarn Fire Brigade w.i 3 largely attended, and officers were elected and all the preliminaries arranged fur commencing operations. Several previous attempts to establish a Fire Brigade in Oamarti failed ; but there is not the slightest indication that the present effort will meet with the same fate. The promoters have set about their task with too much energy and enthusiasm to admit of sttch a thing. We were pleased with their appearance, for they are able-bodied fellows, and just such as would prefer to be awakened by the tolling of the hells to being permitted to steep soundly till morning. Tiiere can be no doubt about the matter now. Oamarti will within a very short time be even with other Colonial ; towns of her size, so far as facilities for fire extinguishment are concerned, j some of the principal insurance companies have contributed liberally to give the project a start, and the public have—as we were sure they would—followed suit. The amount already in hand to date is LIOB, the New Zealand Insurance Company contributing L 25, the National LlO, the Standard LlO, and the public the remainder. Of course this will not be nearly sufficient to see the concern fairly launched —for that a sum of between L 250 and L3OO will be necessary—but it is sufficient to enable the Brigade to send for the plant, and there will be no difficulty in making tip the remainder by donations from other insurance companies and the public. To avoid extravagance, an oldfashioned engine has been ordered from Dunedin, and this, with a liberal supply of hose, 300 feet of which have been ordered, will constitute the most important part of the paraphernalia necessary. Although tires have not been nearly such a scourge in Oamaru as elsewhere in the Colony, yet no one can tell how soon a calamitous tire may occur, in which case, with an efficient Brigade and the necessary appliances, we should not he compelled to grin and bear as heretofore.