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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 13, 7 December 1863, Page 2

It is an old but trite axiom that " what i 9 everybody's business is nobody's business.'' We frequently see, in .every com m unit}', that if any' public want is felt, or any public grievance existing, the individuals of the community -entertain a very apathetic feeling as to getting that want supplied, or in endea vouring to procure any remedy for the grievance. Such is the ease at the present time in Invercargill with reference to one of the greatest wants of the town. We allude to the want of an efficient Volunteer Fire Brigade. We have so frequently urged on the public the great necessity for such a body that a recurrence to the subject becomes almost tiresome. Everyday, however, shows us the great necessity for some means being taken as a resource in the event of a fire breaking out. Every da) additions are being made to the number of wooden and inflammable buildings ill our principal streets, so contiguous to each other that the outbreak of a fire, with any slight current of air blowing — and there is generally no scarcity of wind here — an immense destructi n of property would be the inevitable result. We believe that some steps have been taken by a small portion of the public to establish a VVunteer Fire Brigade. We frequently hear of meetings of the Volunteer Fire Brigade Committee; but up to the present time we have seeu no definite or practical result of their deliberations. There is an evident want of public interest in the whole matter, and as we have said, until the whole community — at least, those whose property would be endangered in case of fire — can be brought to see the urgency of the want, there is scarcely any chance of its being supplied. What we would suggest is that the Town Board take some steps to secure the establishment of a Fire Brig-ide. In many of the olde v municipalities, the local governments havf a Municipal Fire Brigade of their own, or in other cases, subsidise a volunteer corps. If, however, the Volunteer Fire Brigade Committee arp, by themselves, disposed to undertake tlie formation of a brigade, we would advise a more energetic action. An appeal to the public for the requisite funds — £500, we believe would be all that would be necessary for the purchase of a fire engine, and apparatus, — would be met liberally. Tlie Insurance Offices, who are largel interested in the preservation of property here, would, we are confident, see their great advantage in subsidising an efficient body of the kind referred to. As a proof that the mercantile men here are not disposed to be niggardly in contributing to any public movement, having for its benefit the advancement of the interests of the town, we may refer to the very liberal manner in which they have responded to the appeal on behalf of prospecting the Province. If, therefore, they were shown that a fire brigade could be formed by volunteers, we are certain that the funds would be soon raised. A public meeting on the subject would not only elicit what is called " an expression of public opinion ;," but, as in the case referred to, of the Prospecting Association, we feel confident in predicting it would lead to an equally practicable result.