Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1888.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1270, 8 February 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1888.

By the action taken by the members of the Fire Brigade last evening the responsibility of protecting the town from destruction falls upon the Borough Council, and the member* of that body now may be styled Councillors, Harbor Board Members, and Gallant JFiremen. His Worship no doubt will be elected Superintendent of the Brigade, Putting aside chaff, however, the position is simply this. We have a wooden town, liable at almost any moment to be devastated by that best of servants, but worst of masters—“ Firewe have a costly steam fire-engine with which it was hoped to control this “ Fire,” but we have no one to work the engine, and no water to supply it. It is too valuable a toy to keep for ornament, and as there is at present no Brigade it ie virtually useless. The action taken by the members of the corps last evening was the most sensible one they could have adopted. The whole onus having been thrown now upon the Borough Council, that body will in all probability take some step, to re form the Brigade upon a proper footing. It it not possible for men to work satisfactorily unless they are properly equipped, and this is exactly the positien of the members of the late Brigade. They had handed.over to them a valuable engine, but they were not given uniforms, ladders, axes, or water, consequently they could not be of any practical use. and on Tuesday night, when the fire-bell rang out, they were compelled to bear the jibes and sneers of the crowd. It is no wonder the mon are discontented, Their demands are moderate. What they ask for is simply that the Borough Council, either through striking a fire rate, or by tome other means which may be devised, will provide them with a jumper.and boots, a more convenient engine-shed, and to be paid so much per hour when working at a fire. This is certainly not much to request, and we are very greatly mistaken if the Council win not aceeed to it. All the old members will then rejoin, and Gisborne be once more able to boast of a Fire Brigade At the meeting the members stated that they were all willing, although disbanded, to give every assistance m their power in the event of a fire occurring, bnt this is not enough. The public require a properly organised, and well-drilled, Brigade, and it is the duty of every Borough Councillor to see that this urgent requirement is supplied. To make the Brigade, which will have to be formed of use, the Borough Council will have to do other things. It will have either to sink wells in Gladstone Road, capable of holding at least seven thousand gallons each, or have approaches made to the banks of the rivers, so that the engine may be taken in the event of a fire to where there is an abundant supply of water. As to which scheme is the most desirable we will not venture to remark, but to make our Fire Brigade a success something will have to be done by the Council. If it does not, then the Steam Fire Engine will be practically useless, and the money subscribed to purchase it will have been simply thrown away. We do hope the question will be taken up by the Borough Council, and that they will clearly see how necessary it is that the town should have a well equipped and thoroughly efficient Brigade.