The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 12.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 207, 12 August 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 12.

If there is one matter more than another we desire to see given effect to it is the motion of which Cr. Smith gave notice the week before last, viz., that in future all buildings erected in the main street should have party walls of brick, stone, or concrete. Time after time the necessity for such a precaution has been shown, and we are surprised that the citizens have allowed things to remain in their present state for so long. Perhaps the most startling hint that has been given (at all events for some time past) was the recent attempt to fire Mr. East’s store. Had a fire in that block once got a start, nothing could have saved that side of the street, which would have been swept away, while the fire brigade looked on, as they had to do at Gilman’s. It is not to be supposed that such a measure will be allowed to pass without strong opposition from certain individuals in the Council, There are always found some who will oppose progress in whatsoever shape or form it may be presented. In the majority of cases such opponents if called upon to show cause for their obstruction would either be nonplussed or else would promulgate some stupid theory about hardships to an imaginary section of the populace, Indeed, even in this instance it has already been stated that such a bye-law would inflict a hardship on those desirous of building, because many of the sections are only leasehold. We can only characterise such an argument as arrant rubbish, A man who wants to build in a main street does not contemplate erecting a structure which he can take on his back and walk away with, should his landlord and he have a difference of opinion, but as a rule puts up something which will at all events equal, if it does not rival, that of his neighbor. It is in fact to his own interest to do so, and the Borough Council should at least provide that buildings already erected in a main street are not disfigured by poking hovels being placed alongside them. In the construction of a building fitted for a main street, the use of bricks for the side walls will make very little difference, as far as the cost is concerned, than if wood only were used, so that the argument of hardship on the builders falls to the ground. One councillor thought that the provision of a hydraulic water supply would act as a panacea against fires, but that is only a theoretical notion. They have a very good water supply in Wellington and also in Auckland, but it does not prevent the occurrence of fires of very considerable magnitude at times. It very often happens that just as the water is required the well has run dry. We are quite prepared to agree that a water supply would be a very fine thing to have and shall be most happy to do all in our power to further the acquisition of such a desideratum, but burgesses must not allow themselves to be lulled into the false security of imagining that a water supply without other modern appliances will prevent a large destruction of property by fire, especially in such blocks as those bordering on Peel street and Gladstone Road. Besides which the acquirement of a suitable water supply will cost some thousands of pounds to the ratepayers which they will not be prepared to pay for some time at least, whereas the brick walls will cost them nothing, and although they will not prevent fires, will go a long way towards checking them and confining a conflagration within such limits as can be effectually coped with by the local fire brigade with such ap-

pliances as they have at their disposal. We sincerely hope that a sufficient number of our civic representatives will be found to pass the proposal into law, as such a provision will do more to check the spread of fires than a host of thories. While on the subject of fires we would refer to a proposal which was mooted some time ago, viz., to provide the brigade with three or four water-barrels on wheels. These could be got up without much expense, and as a proof of their necessity we have only to refer to such fires as those which occurred at Gilman’s, Tattley’s, and other similar ones. Of course the proposal will be laughed at by certain individuals. That is only a matter of history. But we contend there is ample evidence to prove the necessity for such a supply of water. At both the fires mentioned the brigade, after nearly bursting themselves in dragging their manuals to the scene, made the discovery that there was no water, and that their labor had been in vain. In the majority of cases a small supply of water applied at an early stage would prevent a very large conflagration, and until some better means is suggested we shall continue to urge what we have proposed. Tne steamengine can only be of use within a certain radius, and if double the length of hose were provided which the brigade now have, we feel convinced that the water-barrels would still be found of great-utility as an auxiliary force. There are gentlemen in the brigade who have seen similar contrivances and can speak as to their usefulness. They would at least be a more reasonable plan, we think, than that of erecting tanks in various parts of the town and pumping them full from the engine; because the barrels could be taken right on to the spot where they were required. At all events the scheme is worth some consideration by those who have undertaken the task of preventing the ravages of fire.