V THE /* 9 i--^ p t'^'ii^ ffV & -|'%%' //'ill '^■•^^/Vb%^? " Inveniam viam aut faciam"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10, 26 November 1861, Page 2

V THE /* 9 i--^ p t'^'ii^ ffV & -|'%%' //'ill '^■•^^/Vb%^? " Inveniam viam aut faciam"

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER" 26, 1861. One of.the chief characteristics of Duneclin at the present time is the hurried sine! irregular manner in which business of all kinds is carried on People, in fact, seem to have more to do than they can manage, and get through their work in the quickest manner they can, without regard to order or precision. Can a stronger instance of this be adduced, than, that lira town composed almost entirely of inflammable wooden buildings not the slightest precaution is taken against fire. The commercial element certainly predominates inDune Jin; several of the mercantile houses do an amount of business that would not be contemptible, in Liverpool, Glasgow, or London. But what would the merchant princes of these, places think, of a community of British merchants who, whilst their warehouses were filled with goods, were calmly indifferent to the slightest precaution against the great scourge of commerce —fire. The leading business men in Dunedin are much to blame for the indifference they display. Let any half dozen of them ask themselves the question, "if we choose to exert ourselves, would not some precaution against

fire have been adopted ?" and the answer will be, no difficulty interferes to prevent your obtaining the protection that most-large towns enjoy, except that you are .utterly careless and mdinvrent as t.o procuring it. There are now three insurance offices in Dnnedin, two have been there some time, the third is of recent origin. The two first have risks, we believe, that amount to a considerable" sum, and. they are doing a large business. The first that was established (the London and Liverpool) •promised long ago to furnish an engine, which promise was kept by the supply of a machine more litted for a child's .toy than any otherpurpose. The Northern Assurance Company signified that when its risks warranted it, it would supply an engine to the town. Tins condition*has certainly been attained, but the office has not even been asked to fulfil its pledge. The one engine the town boasts of, ridiculously small as it is, might still, if.only for the sake of practice, be used ; but we understand it is stowed away, so that it is extremely difficult to obtain, even a sight of it, much more to put it to any use in case the necessity should arise. We believe that if the inhabitants would provide for the use of the engines, the insurance offices would not.&e behind in contributing towards their cost. But they really have mfericouragernent to do so, when such is the apathy displayed, that if good engines were here, it would appear as if no one would take even the trouble to find them housing room. If regulations were passed compelling every householder to keep a certain amount of water on or in the immediate vicinity of his premises, if tanks were constructed (as they could be at small cost), near the principal centres of the town, if the Brigade which exists only in name would show some symptoms of vitality, the cost of engines and other appliances Would be readily forthcoming. This is just one of those subjects that do not admit of an hour's delay. Before this even meets the eyes of our readers, they may have the matter impressed on their minds with an awful reality no pen can convey, bjr the occurrence of a disastrous devastating conflagration. The sword of Damocles hangs over the town suspended by a single hair. Carelessness, unavoidable accident, willfulness,—:a hundred causes,—may contribute to a fire, whose..ravages would involve those who now slumber in heedless security, in ruin. Even those who j insure, receive as a rule ho compensation for the actual loss they sustain. The mere vahie of a building does not represent its usefulness to the owner'; nor does the cost of property represent the reproductive purposes to which it may be put. There is scarcely a single person in the community but what has a large interest in the matter, and while we would earnestly call on the Chamber of Commerce to take "action and exert its influence, we would at the same time counsel that a public meeting be. called to urge on the Government the necessity of taking steps to provide precautions against, and in case of, fire. We understand that any measures that, may be agreed upon will receive hearty assistance at the hand-! of the police department. Perhaps even the military contingent, tired of the " dolec far nientc" which assuredly only awaits it in Otago, may not consider it infra dignitatem, to lend its assistance in the way of drilling, and so on. Many an act of heroism has been performed at a fire, that would.not pale before the most- daring deeds of the battle field. There are no limits ito the arenas on which endurance and bravery may be displayed, and for the rest, man has no holier mission than usefulness to his kind. The "■ Aldinga" took 40,103 o?. 13 dwts. ofgold to Melbourne. —25,000 being shipped by the Union Bank , 1.5,000 by the Bank of New South Wales, and 103 oz. 13 dwts. by private hands. We understand that at the New Zealand Bank premises in Rattray Street, sovereigns are being paid f;»r the post-dated notes so unfortunately issued. The journeymen Carpenters struck yesterday, for a higher rate of wages. Twelve shillings is the rate the}- have been receiving, and they struck for fifteen shillings. Men have of course a right to work or decline work as they choose, and we pass no opinion as to the justice of the price asked, there is something no doubt to be said on both sides ; overtime work conies very expensive to the employers, ! whilst the carpenters are often subjected to J the hardship of days' idleness, as they cannot work.in wet weather. Still all this does not excuse coercion being employed, and we are informed mati3 r men who were satisfied with the wages they were receiving, were pressed to leave off by a band of the strike hands who went through the town for that purpose. " Pkkvktstion is better than cure," and we would point out to the authorities, or with whomsoever the responsibility remains, the unI safe condition <">f the wharf after dark. There are many persons whose avocations compel them to traverse the jetty at night, and it is a matter of surprise that there has been no accident at that end of the wharf where the repairs are now going on. There is absolutely no protection whatever to prevent persons walking into the harbour', and we know of one narrow escape only the other night. We would suggest the fixing of a lamp, or a temporary barrier, at that point where, the floor of the jetty is incomplete, otherwise we quite expect some fatal catastrophe will occur. Mention has been previously made of the desirability of telegraphic communication between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. That

this communication would be of immense benefit to the mercantile community cannot \ be doubted, and it is a matter of surprise that those most interested in the necessity have not taken steps to initiate its establishment. The outlay, if the commercial community fairly take the matter up, would not be much ; a capital of £3000 or £4000 would, so we are given to understand, be fully adequate to carry out the undertaking, and this amount •should not present tiny groat obstacle to the providing so desirable a facility for the furtherance of business. To a merchant, time tx money, and mercantile men, generall}7" alive to this truism, couid not hesitate to incur some sacrifice of money to secure the saving of that invaluable possession that would be afforded by rapid communication. We throw out these hints, trusting that the mercantile community, if convinced of their cogency, will take steps to provide itself with the great convenience attaching to telegraphic communication.