THE DEFUNCT FIRE BRIGADE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1130, 27 December 1883, Page 2

THE DEFUNCT FIRE BRIGADE.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir, —I am pleased to see that your valuable leader on the defunct Fire Brigade has woke up at least one person in the Borough to the positive necessity of our having some other appliances than those which existed -in Patea for the purpose of coping with our great enemy, fire. I would have been belter pleased had your correspondent, “ Gian Aber,’’confined himself to fads, not gone on supposition,: and kept in view the object which he protends he had in view, viz., helping to further the formation of efficient means for protection of life and property against fire. Had he done so ho might possibly have done some good, and not have written such a rambling tirade of abuse and false statements about the members of the old Brigade.

In reply to “ Gian Aber,” the Borough Council did not offer the Brigade £25 with future expectations, and “Gian Aber” ought to have been aware 1 that such was the case before writing under an assumed name, and making it grounds for his cowardly attack. Though I have not been absent from any meeting of the Brigade since joining, I ani not aware that any one member of that body thought the Council could vote fabulous sums for any purpose. The idea must have originated with one of “ Gian AberV’ friends, and be is making use of it. He then raises a doubt as to the truth of his own statement by saying, “ If I correct, &c.” A Volunteer Fire Brigade in any place is formed for mutual protection, and “ Qian Aber” cannot prove that the members expected any personal remuneration, as he insinuates. If £25 had been offered, it would have been cheerfully accepted in spite of the insulting character of the reception accorded to our deputation to the Borough Council when they waited upon that body as representing “ Gian Aber,” and other citizens of this town. A lot of encouragement was given to the Brigade to continue. That everyone admits we did a discreditable action in resigning our trust is equally untrue

We did hold office for more than fl month after the notice of motion to disband had been given, and if *' Gian Aber ” will turn np yonr old files he will be convinced of the troth of what I state. That the brigade forgot their doty through an imaginary grievance (though they had a real one) which ended in sulks, is a falsehood, proved so by their action at the fire in Meredith street, which docs away with the .base thought of “ Gian Aber,” that “no person wool I wish the town to he left at the mercy of n fro brigade With’ a grievance.” Men of Ids stamp who can conceive such ideas might allow their feelings of supposed injury to overcome those of humanity, but I am proud to say our men turned out oh the alarm being given.

“ Gian Aber ” u having found at all fires the absence of any well organised system of saving and protecting property,” then offers some suggestions. Why did this man of groat experience shirk his duly as- a, citizen by not coming; forward; before ? , Was it tin t the raw material which composed the brigade was not good enough, nr that he feared the ballot for membership? That the business people should shew some energy is quite correct, hut I do riot agree with the idea that a salvage cor, s is of more service than a fire, brigade ; it is too absurd. Pitch a display of ignorance after all his boast of ’ experience is lamentable. A salvage ( O'ps and a fire brigade arc Ywo different things, and no matter how well disciplined his salvage corps niight be, they would find that they could do little towards snbdueing the demon fife without a fire brigade. Such words prove’tlint ‘‘Qian Aber” does not: know what he Is writing about. However, I-sin-cerely hope that nil, the good, meir will now cpmc to the front, and take the of the “ tolerably efficient fire brig but I very .much .doubt if- it will W\!* • improvement if. it is to be composed of men like "Gian Aber,” who are always willing to ; criticise, without putting. their own shoulders to the wheel. Who, I should now like to ask, have erred in their conduct : this iriah who professes to know so much or, the disorganized Brigade that has saved some hundreds of pounds worth of property since its formation ? And if they have not done enough with the plant at their disposal it is from want of knowledge, and as “ Gian Aber ” has withheld his large experience gained at all the fires ho hns attended, is it not his fault and not theirs ns is testified to by the men’s attendance at practice ?

Now for the Fireman’s view of the mutter. We asked the Borough Connell for assistance and our Captain and Secretary wore insulted, and then on a second appeal we had an offer made of ten ponnds per annum and a 10s subsidy for every pound collected. • The Brigade required some kind of; uniform almost absolutely necessary, as they arenot liable to be interfered with and crowded in the execution of their duty, when the lookers-on can distinguish them. It is hardly fair that the. nun arc expected to wear their own coats when there is always the danger of getting - them • burnt or otherwise destroyed as has happened in Patea. Hose will also be required soon. As is known to any person conversant with these matters, a

burst is a common occurrence, even at practice, and jfiore so when at a fire and fnlihanded. " NewTcoWplings are wanted and these cannot be got for nothing. The principal portion of the old Brigade were young men who have• not any stake in the town, not being property holders and they cannot, therefore, be expected to stand insults and be obliged to beg from house to house when so much apathy and neglect are shewn by the “business people,” whom “Gian Aber ” now wishes to enlist as members, not having come forward before with their help. “ Gian Aber,” by his silence in the past proves that he was satisfied, till the Brigade disbanded, and then ho immediately (urns and sneers at the efforts that he must have appreciated, or his proposiiion,. if-i-hc is the. public benefactor that he would like to make himrelf out to be, would have been hazardedfbefore.

I will now mention that although the brigade have held meetings since the last fire, they have never received any acknowledgment at them in any shape, from those interested in the properties saved by their exertions, assisted by a number of citizens who worked manfully. Does not this show “.apathy ” on the part of the insurance companies and “neglect” oh the part of the agents as residents, when, by a little trouble in representing to their head office, I feel certain they could have secured a small money grant, and not leave'it to Messrs P. Maliony and A| Gower to generously pay,over a guinea each to cover the expenses connected wiih the disaster. This, circumstance ilid ; not, however, influence re disbanding, as it had been already decided to do so, if no action was taken by the public, who saw it reported in the' Mail, —Yours, &c., Ex-Firbman,