THE LATE FIRE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1144, 15 December 1879, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

(TO TIIE EDITOR OF TIIE OAMARU MAIL.) Sir,—l beg to correct a statement in your issue of Saturday, wherein you state that the fire was extinguished before the Fire Brigade could reach the scene. In justice to that useful body of men I must inform you that Mr. Edward Rowland, who was the first to enter the premises and put out the fire, is a working member of the Fire Brigade. Yours, &c., G. Greenfield. [While we willingly insert our correspondent's letter, wo can scarcoly admit that it provides any correction of our report. We stated that Mr. Rowland was amongst those who discovered the fire and assisted to extinguish it, but as that gentleman does not compose the Fire Brigade, although he is an active member of it, we did not deem it necessary or absolutely within the realms of truth to state that the Fire Brigade put the fire out. Our remark that the fire was extinguished before the Brigade arrived was not intended as a reflection upon the members of that useful public body—for they turned out like men who felt that they had a duty to perform that would not admit of delay—but was merely intended to show with what promptitude measures were taken to prevent the spread of the flames.—Ed. O.M.]