A FIRE ESCAPE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1086, 11 October 1879, Page 2

A FIRE ESCAPE.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARU .MAIL.) Sir, —Since the late distructive tiro in Dunedin I notice in various newspapers that several schemes have been propounded for saving life from burning houses. Like others, my thoughts have been a little exercised in that way, and for the sake of humanity, if they are worth anything, the world is welcome to them. The five escape I would suggest consists of a simple mast-, either of wood or a light iron tube, which could be made like a telescope to suit high or low buildings. Within a foot of the mast head is a steam ball for the halyards, and at the foot a cleet for lowering the halvards home, one end of which is made fast to the basket, say 4ft. by 2ft., with a depth of 3ft. Gin., slung at the four corners, and the apparatus is complete. The mast is then placed against the burning house at an angle of, say 45, more or less, as the case requires. The basket is hoisted up to the window when the sufferers present themselves. As many as four children can be lifted in at a time and lowered in safety, and two adults, more or less, according to the strength of the gear. In the event of the fire blazing out between the window from which the sufferers are descending, a haul-down or guy could be fixed to the basket, and it could be drawn off in its descent f-om the flames, or a traveller like that employed for a lugsail could be used so that the basket would slide down by the mast. I should think that the whole of the apparatus could easily be carried by three men, and would be of comparatively small cost. Four or five of such lire escapes in a town like Oamaru, or ten in the City of Dunedin, kept at convenient places, could be brought to the site of a tire at whatever part of the town it broke out, in a short space of time and with great rapidity. I think, moreover, that all large hotels and boarding-houses that are more than one storey high oughtto provide every bedroom with an escape in theshape of asuitablei'ope. so that in the event of a fire, when escape is cut off by the stairs, the inmates of each room, by means of the rope, could deliver themselves from the horrible death that poor Mr. Wilson, his family, and others suffered at the Octagon. I think it would be no great hardship if every licensed house and boarding-house were compelled to make such provisions, and private families who live in lofty houses would do well to hold themselves ready. us suppose that a family sleeping in the upper scorey of a high house are aroused by the noise of roaring flames and the crackling of burning timber. The affrighted father rushes to the door and finds to his horror that the stairs havi been consumed, and escape is cut off. But a rope sufficiently long is at hand, the window is thrown open, he slings bis .vife and lowers her down, then disposes of his little ones in the same manner, and finally descends himself. Although the flames may have devoured his property, would he not be thankful to God that his dear ones were saved. That all of you that have high houses may provide a rope is the earnest prayer of yours faithfully H. L. Gilbert. Livingstone, 7th October.

Q TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir, —111 your issue of the 7th insfc. you notice the criticism passed by Mr. Macintosh on the immigrants ex Invercargill. Does Mr. Macintosh arrive at the conclusion that they are " culls" simply because a few of them may seem unfitted for the requirements of the Oamaru district. It must certainly be discouraging to these immigrants, iirst to find that there is no work for them in the district, and then (perhaps for that very reason) to sec themselves designated the " culls" from the Dunedin barracks. It Mr Macintosh finds fault with the present system of obtaining immigrants for this district, perhaps it would repay the employers to secure his services in the choosing. We should then feel safe from having the "culls" introduced into our neighborhood. The Invercargill must have brought an exceptionally good class of immigrants if those that have arrived here are the "culls." They seem both respectable and able-bodied, and, I have little doubt, will show themselves undeserving of the term so rashly applied to them by Mr. Macintosh.—l am, &c., Frosti Nulla Fides. October 9, 1879.