The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 326, 20 November 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20, 1875.

“ We shall sell Io no man justice or right: We shall deny Io no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right."

The necessity for anight patrol in Gisborne is undeniable. Without this protection the safety of the town is imperilled in the event of a fire breaking out during the hours of quiet repose, when there is no one to notice it. From midnight to early morn, there is neither constable nor watchman to perambulate the streets, or sound the alarm in case of danger, as in other towns. In Gisborne where all the buildings are wooden structures, there is constant liability to fires taking place, and as the town is left to look after itself during the greater part of the night, a conflagration, much less an ordinary fire, might possibly happen ere it could be noticed, or steps taken to extinguish it. Even when fires are discovered at the earliest stages of their progress, it is often found to bt impossible, with the best appliances, to get them under until much damage has been done. Here we have neither fire engines nor water available, and the occurrence of a fire in the dead of night — especially if not discovered iu time—■ would be attended with the most, disastrous results. There is, therefore, a dire necessity for a night patrol. Until about ten mouths ago a constable was regularly told off for night duty, and why this protection was withdrawn we know not. Police duty has since been only extended till twelve o’clock, when the hotels close, although it is apparent that we are now in greater need of the services of a police officer, from that hour till morning, than we were formerly, owing to the large number of buildings that have been lately erected. In the circumstances in which we are thus placed, we would suggest the propriety of making an immediate application to the Commanding Officer of the Armed Constabulary in the district, for a night patrol, and the Resident Magistrate is, we think, the proper party to make this application. We have no doubt Capt. Gudgeon would grant such an application, and authorise the night patrol to be resumed at once.

In this connection we would once more say a word or two on the subject of making provision for the extinguishment of fires. Sometime ago Mr. Whitson, very considerately, offered to allow a reservoir or large tank, which would hold many thousands of gallons, to be constructed at the top of the brewery, from which, in the event of fire, a supply of water would be readily available. It was fully expected that the Bead Board would have accepted this liberal offer, and made the necessary arrangements for an adequate supply of water for use in case of- fire, but, from some cause or other, this has not been done. Now that the Board arein receipt of a larger annual revenue than they have hitherto been, we trust they will perceive the propriety of according to the town those means of extinguishing fires which are accorded to all other towns, namely, a supply of water ; and we know no better mode of accomplishing that object than by erecting a capacious tank at the brewery, from which elevated position,it would be quite easy to convey water by hose to, at least, the more densely populated parts of the town. The digging of one or two artesian wells in the town- would not only aid the extinguishment of fires, but would also contribute materially to sanitary purposes. We have no doub to that such walls could be bored here with the same success that has characterised the artesian well at Makaraka.