The Patea Mail. Established 1875. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1883. THE DEFUNCT FIRE BRIGADE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1128, 21 December 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1883. THE DEFUNCT FIRE BRIGADE.

It is not a pleasant reflection for townspeople that their property in Patea is utterly unprotected in case of fire. Till recently we have had a Fire Brigade, but that body, like many another useful institution, the Farmers’ Club for instance, has disappeared—wiped out by the apathy of those whose best interest it was to encourage it. The epitaph of the Patea Fire Brigade may be briefly written, thus: “ Died from want of funds, A.D, 1883.” Whether or not “ deeply regretted ” may be added is at present doubtful. A rattling good fire would settle that point, probably in the affirmative. But is it worth while, for the sake of the few pounds necessary to keep np a brigade, that the town should run thej risk of being destroyed. We should think the proper answer would be “ decidedly not.” The late brigade, it must be admitted, was a tolerably efficient body. They practised diligently and obtained fair precision in the use of the appliances at their command. Further, they did good service in battling with the Fire King on more than , one occasion. For instance, the fine building in which Messrs Lundberg and Co., conduct their business was saved from conversion into a heap of ashes by the timely intervention of the brigade.: Probably adjoining buildings were similarly prevented from dissolving into smoke at the same time. Other instances might be recalled to mind wherein the services of the brigade have been the means of saving valuable property. It is not necessary to enumerate them ; it is sufficient for our. purpose to state that the brigade ha* in the past given evidence of its ability to be of use when occasion required. That being so, we cannot but think that it was wrong to allow the

Brigade to die ont—starve to death. Accordjng to the statement of the secretary at; the meeting the other night, when 'the funeral obsequies were performed, the total monies received from a grateful public during the year were £2 Is Off, This is not an extravagant • .sum, and it speaks volumes for the good management of the Brigade that they contrived to exist upon it so long. True, they had a few pounds in hand, but the total, including the £2 Is Od of public “ support,” only amounted to £ll 15s Od. Enthusiasm must have been strong indeed amongst the members. But apathy and neglect have quenched the ardour that wns proof even against the laborious but not always pleasant duties connected with “wet” and “dry” practices, hand; pumps and hose drill, and the other mysterious operations which only firemen understand. The Brigade having managed to rub along for twelve months upon nineteen and sevenpence per month, it does not seem that a very much larger contribution would have been needed to keep it in existence, and it is not creditable that sufficient funds were not forthcoming. In fact we don’t mind going so far as to say that it is a disgrace that a town of the jsize and importance of Patea should be without a Fire Brigade. We are proud of our buildings, which are larger and handsomer than those of any town of similar size in the Colony. Yet we would wager that there is no town with half the pretension that has not an organisation of some sort to cope with such a powerful enemy as fire, an enemy needing to be dealt wish promptly and ..efficiently because of its sudden and unsuspected attack. A little sober thought upon the subject would, we feel sure, lead to the conclusion that the Fire Brigade must be resuscitated. Do not lot us wait for it to rise “ Phoenix like from the ashes ” of the “ Central ” or the “ Albion,” or indeed any other building. Better that we should make up our minds at once to bo; ready for a fire, and not have cause to reflect that So-and-so’s place might have been saved if we had had a Brigade. For oiir part we think that the matter is one that might well be taken in hand by the Borough Council. They arc the guardians of the Borough financially and otherwise, and who is there in the Borough that can say he is.safe from fire. The expenditure necessary to re-establish the Brigade upon a satisfactory footing would not be very extensive, and borne as it would be by the general fund no one would feel it and all would contribute alike. In many other towns the Fire Brigades are part of the Municipal Institution in so far that Boroughs and Corporations contribute the maintenance funds and exercise supervision over the expenditure. Insurance companies and private individuals contribute also according to their inclination and means, and they would do so here if the thing were gone about in a proper way. Nor would there be any difficulty in obtaining volunteers, if it were seen that the money, small though it be, to maintain the Brigade would be forthcoming. We even venture to hope that many of the old members would rejoin, so that with renewed confidence the Patea Fire Brigade would soon become an efficient institution of which we might be proud. We repeat that the present state of things affords grave cause for alarm amongst owners of property in the best portion of the town. We commend the matter to the attention of our energetic Mayor.