DEFECTIVE CHIMNEY’S.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 451, 9 August 1879, Page 2

DEFECTIVE CHIMNEY’S.

(To the Editor ove the Patea Mail.) Sir, —Will you be kind enough to give space in your columns for a few remarks I wish to make in reference to the fire that took place at Mr J. Whelan’s store. In the first place I may state that I made enquiries as to the cause of the fire, and strange to say, that I found that it was the old thing over again—a defective chimney Now, Mr Editor, I wish to inform you that during my long term of service in the W.V.F. Brigade, I can positively swear that out of every twelve fires that took place in Wanganui, nine out of the twelve were caused through defective chimneys. The cr.inmej in question, I have no doubt, is built well enough, according to the usual style of chimney’s, but what about the material used in the erection of the same. You cannot call it morter —I should say the stuff off the roads would be better to

iiso. I would also suggest to tlio various Insurance Companies, before llicir agents are allowed to eIT-ct an insurance on any building, that tli>* chimneys should bo w< 11 ex.,oniii“d by them, for 1 maintain lb ;t they sbnaM be lime phstered in side from top to bottom as W'd! as lime pointed nntsido. Throngn the Siini''- aoi having :i ;I*or bad joints made, it was a very ii.iriniv e-srapa with the wiitdi* of tie* b'dMia gs'on I tint block, aad I mus* '-v. i iia! Jim g- nilem-en wlio work ’d wil it: pulling oiU !no lire deserve 4 M* f!irof as :dl, and strange to -vy linn- ad v”ii tried Fin- Brigade mdinters. iSbov. I tun in formed that Mr W. Dixon a- an-ait taking steps as regards in- formal mu of a Fire Brigade ; if so. I sbi'vivly hope that ho will meet with a iittl** better luck than I did some few years ago, when I called a public meeting for the same purpose, and I think three or four made their appearance, and I was let in tor the cost of advertising, and that ended the fhst attempt. I would like to see some kind of brigade formed, if it was only to order, and protect the property of cue suff. refs, even if we cannot raise*sufficient to purchase a small engine. Horae kind of organisation would help to save a little. A fire-hell would also be veryuseful, for I noticed that very few made their appearance at the late lire—the principle of those who did attend were Mr Thomas Haywood’s lodges, who worked well. I must, now coin-hide, with hoping that the inhabitants of Carlyle will come forward like men, and see what can be done to save lives and property, —I am, &c., JAM EH LETT. Carlyle, August bth, it>7o. o