THE DEFUNCT FIRE BRIGADE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1131, 28 December 1883, Page 2

THE DEFUNCT FIRE BRIGADE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,- —In to-dny's Mail is a long letter from an Ex-Fireman, and in which he gives prominence to “ Our Captain and Secretary ” having been insulted by the Borough Council. I think, Sir, on the occasion referred to by him, the very reverse occurred. The Captain and Secretary appeared at the Council meeting os petitioners, but no sooner did they open fire in that character, than they became bouncers. Their zeal (commendable no doubt) was just a little too strong for their civility, and as a consequence they had to be gently snubbed—but not insulted. Moral—Little boys should not be angry if they do not get everything' they want from papa. Dec, 27 1883. Councillor.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I should like to make a few additional remarks in connection with the fancied grievance of the Fire Brigade. Their grievance, I understand, simply consists in a request that they should submit their accounts to be audited yearly. I think Mr Taplin, the chairman of the Patea insurance agents, was quite right in making that request, and that it was the ncuol thing in ail other places that when a fire brigade received public support they prepared a yearly balance sheet to be audited by an auditor appointed by the contributing parties. If the Patea insurance agent and the Borough had not made such a reasonable request to the ex-brigade how would they know that the money was not misapplied ? If no check of this sort existed the money might have boon spent in banquets or intoxicating liquors for all wo know. We know the ex-brigade would not do such a 1 thing, hot that won)d he no guarantee j 'CvyyCv, \twJA wo\. omvt fa (a re period. I fin d that one "gentle- ( man” has misunderstood my proposal about resuscitating the fire brigade. I am well aware that if we had a good supply of water jfwe could not hotter the last fire brigade’s system of dealing with fires, but unfortunately the supply is very limited, and would be of but little use in a great fire. Taking that into consideration the next best thing would be an organisation for saving and protecting property during a fire. Say, for instance, if a fire bad a good hold of the Central Hotel, with the present supply of water, nothing could save the whole block from destruction, no matter how efficient a brigade we may have, but with a well organised corps such as I suggested, they could, before a fire would reach Mr Currie’s or Mr Adams’ shops, empty these places of most of their goods. I will give an instance of what occurred at a fire at a Patea store some years ago. I have seen four or five men trying to get out of the store loaded, and four or five men trying to get in at the same time through a door only large enough for one to get in comfortably. The sequel was they could neither get in nor out, and very little was saved. If these men were organised, such stupid proceedings would not occur. In conclusion, Sir, I am not wedded to these suggestions. It anyone can suggest a better plan for our present condition without a supply of water, I shall be most happy to assist in carrying it out. lam almost afraid to think what would be the consequence if a big fire was to occur with our present everybody and nobody’s business sort of an arrangement. And I hope and trust that the old brigade will sink all differences, and give their experience and assistance heartily in the formation of whatever organisation is to take their place. We know that they were thoroughly efficient, and and also that the public did not give them the support that they were entitled to. They need not take that to heart much—for the public are proverbially slow to discern real worth.—l am, &c,

Glan Aber, Patea, Dec 28, 1883.