The Southland Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 899, 14 February 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1868.

The remarks made in a recent issue upon the inactivity of the JnvercargiJl Volunteer Fire Brigade has called forth a reply from the Captain (Mr John Kixasxajtd). The letter is temperate and to the point. He plainly tells the property-, holders that it is owing to their indifference that the Brigade has fallen off, in hoth numhers and efficiency, during the last three years. Every property or householder must confess that for real usefulness, a well organised and energetically conducted Kre Brigade is of the highest importance. The Rifle Volunteer Companies that may be formed will no doubt prove of great social value by weaning young men from idleness and dissipation, by accustoming tl?em to manly exercise that not only develops the physical frame, but expands the intellect. Still it is not likely that our Rifle Volunteers will ever be called into service, while the Firemen know not to a minute when they may be summoned to fight a fierce battle with the most deadly of all enemies — fire ; thus they have a priority of claim to all others for public encouragement and support. Mr Kingslaot), in regretting that j;he little public interest shown in the progress of the company has so damped the ardour and deadened the energies of the members, considers it desirable to reorganise the Brigade in accordance with "An Ordinance to make provision for the better protection of property in the province, of Southland from damage by fire," passed by the Council two sessions since, and assented to by His Excellency the Governor in March, 1867. Having gone through the clauses of this Ordinance, we cannot be surprised that such a regret should be expressed, or at the reluctance manifested by the Fire Brigade Volunteers to come under such an Ordinance. It lays down a code of laws for the management of the company, and provides that the property of the public in the hands of the Brigade shall be vested in the Superintendent. It also authorises the enrolment of a Volunteer Fire Police, and invests them with considerable authority; but, like all provincial legislative jim-crackeries, it complicates the very thing it was most especially required to simplify. In Clause 12 it provides for the pulling down of houses, if necessary, to stay a fire ; but such is the nature of the conditions, that they are abortive and cumbersome. It requires that a certificate in a given form shall be obtained signed by three Insurance Companies. Is it possible to imagine obtuseness like unto this ? In the midst of a rapidly spreading fire no steps can betaken to stay its progress until the signature of three gentlemen have been obtained, who may be living at various parts of the suburbs, whom it would likely be difficult to find when wanted. Again, there is no provision made, wholly or in part, to defray from the public funds the necessary expenses of the working of the Brigade. If it is to become a Government institution, the charges for enginekeeper and night watchman are clearly a Government- liability; and if the Fire Police are to be of any value, there should be a paid officer appointed conjointly by Government and the Insurance Agents, to whom should be entrusted the powsr to decide when it was necessary to pull down buildings, and he should always have certificates with the required signatures attached with him. Unless these provisions are made an efficient company cannot be expected. A public effort should be made to give such support to the Invercargill Fire Brigade as will encourage its present members to renewed exertion, and induce others to join them. In other towns all the business men give small monthly subscriptions, and the Insurance Companies contribute largely towards the expenses of Fire Brigades. It will be a lasting disgrace to the town if the Invercargill Company should have to be disbanded for want of public support. "We should like to see the activity of its members so far revived that they would not only re-commence regular engine practice, but also follow the example of other Brigades and establish a member's reading-room.

In the IntetproVincial Cricket Match, Canterbury t>. Otago, the latter province has been Tictorinus by eight wickets. It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that the 8.8. Wellington -will leave the Bluff, for Northern Ports, thia a'ternoon, on the arrival of the train, instead of on the 17th, her usual time of sailing. The children attending the Presbyterian Sab bath School had their annual treat on the afternoon of Tuesday last. The -weather was delightful, and both scholars and teachers, over 200 altogether, enjoyed themselves amazingly in the pastures surrounding Chatsworth-house. Having formed into procession for the mawh homeward, three cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Philips, who had so kindly thrown their fields open to them. TTaving arrived in town, they were dismissed to their homes with a few appropriate remarks from the Rev. A. H. Stobo. Our Blaff correspondent, under date 13th Feb.. ■writes :— The weather at this port for the last I week has been all that could be desired, although. J at the came time, when we experience baauti. , fnl weather, we mn st also make up ouminds to bear with those pests called sandflies Those insects seem to delight to exercise their valour in fine weather, not only to molest and irritate, but also to suck the very life-blood, and for the last two days they have been quite unreasonable in their attacks for. these purposes. Yesterday a long narrow bank of fog came in from the westward, and towards night settled in a N.W. direction. This morning, about seven, o'clock, the town was enveloped in a cloud for a short time, when it gradually cleared up with an easterly breeze. The s.s. Auckland, from Otago, dne this morning at this port, not having arrived, about 11 a.m. a vessel was seen in the horizon supposed to be that steamer. The departure of the 11.15 a.m. train was postponed until the arrival of the supposed steamer ; but immediately a large bank of fog overspread the entrance of the harbor, travelling in a northerly direction, making the approach to the harbor highly dangerous, and objects at a distance of a few hundred yards quite invisible, whilst the atmosphere in all other directions was genial and clear. At 2.40 p.m. the train loft for Invercargill, the Auckland not having shown up on account of the fog. About 4 p.m. the fog cleared away, the s.s. Anckland steamed in, having teen waiting outside for some time. The following correspondence, in the shape of a circular, has been freely distributed amongst the members of the Dunedin Clvb :— " Dunedin, 28th January, 186S. — Dear Marchant, — I should like to explain to you before you go to the Clnb asain with respect to your name appearing in the Visitors' Book there. Some of the members have taken exception to it. — Tours sincerely, J. L. Butterworth. Dunedin, 30th January, 1868. — James Macassey, Esq. — Sir, — Tn reference to the verdict in the action of Davies v. Marchant, and to the compromise effected in that of Marchant v. Daviea of the following day, I apply to you for your statement as a professional man and gentleman as to whether there was anything either in the character of the verdict or of the compromise injurious to my reputation as to both. Also, whether the evidence on the other side was not of such a character that it would have been the verygrossest folly on my part to have carried my action to an issue, could I have anticipated that evidence which the jury did not credit. It may be possible to escape unsullied, even from the exception taken to my name on the Visitors' Book by some of the Members of the Dunedin Club, who appear to consider themselves wiser and better men than either Judge or Jury j still, such a proceeding appears to render it desirable that I should endeavor to obtain from you in writing what you have already verbally assured me of. — Tour obeuient servant, R. M. Marchant. Blackstone Chambers, Dunedin, 30th January, 1868. — RM. Marchant, Esq. — Sir, — In reply to your letter of this date, I beg to say that it appears to me that it would be inconsistent with the rules of professional etiquette, which I am bound to observe, for me to put in writing the opinion which I as your counsel have formed of the results involved in the verdict given upon the trial in which you were lately engaged. Looking at the re/usaL j of Borne Members of the Club to receive you as a visitor, purely in the light of a Club dispute, I could, if desired by you, attend before any Committee of Enquiry, for which you may call, and state dispassionately what was the effect of the verdict pronounced upon the issues raised in Davies v. Marchant, and how far that verdict brought about the compromise in your favor in the cross action of Marchant v. Davies. — I am, Sir, Tour faithful servant, James Macassey. [ Dunedin, 31st January, 1868.— J. L. Butterworth, Esq. — My dear Butterworth, — Mr Macassey appears to consider himself precluded from expressing his opinion in writing, as requested by my letter. I may, however, state that previous to my writing him he had informed me that he distinctly held the decision of the Jury to hive expressed its disbelief of the evidence against me, and to have specially set forth this opinion in the distinct declaration that the £280 awarded was for the house. I submit to you this correspondence, because you were the introducer to the Dunedin Club of the visitor bo attacked. The ' exception taken to my name by some of the members ' has, I believe, proceeded exclusively from that frag* mental portion of every Society which endeavors to build a reputation for its own nice honor and propriety by attacking any man, who, in the knowledge of his own integrity, dares to defy intimidation and possible conspiracy, and to maintain his Tights in the face of obstacles to which any member of this faction would doubtless have succumbed. I submit for your satisfaction that I have throughput courted the light, even for reputation's sake, and that I have done so in a manner that no sane man anticipating the possibility of such evidence as that brought forward against me would dare do. Also, that had suoh evidence possessed an atom of truth in its composition, I must necessarily have anticipated it, and by my conduct, in spite of such anticipation, have shown myself to be either a fool or a madman. Censure from men who have neither charity enough to. refrain from condemning a man, who, under such circumstances, has. escaped condemnation, nor brains enough to see the necessary conclusion which consideration of such, circumstances would lead the possessor of any of that material to form, is real praise. If you, as a Member of the Dunedin Club, have the power of bringing this correspondence under its notice, I ask you to do so as rendered necessary by the circumstance!, and by your withdrawal of my name before advising me as to the Bteps which should be taken.— Tours truly, B. M. Marchant,"