WAITARA AND THE UNDERWRITERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 195, 26 November 1910, Page 8

WAITARA AND THE UNDERWRITERS' ASSOCIATION.

I To the Editor. I Sir,—With your permission I would be glad of a little space to say in detail .what conversation took place between ( Mr. Corkill and myself on Monday morn- ; ing last. To begin with, I noticed Mr. I Corkill coming from the train, and ini formed His Worship of the fact, for the I I eason that I knew there was an inten- . tion on his part to approach the Association with a view to making applica- , tion for a reduction in insurance rates. Mr. Jenkins was busy with a client at [ e time, and asked me to interview Mr. Corkill. As he states, I met him on McLean street, and asked when it would be convenient for the Association to visit | n aitara. for the purpose of inspecting | the water supply, with a view to reducI insurance rates. His reply was, | "You have no hope." I asked "Why?" , Well," said Mr. Corkill, "there is a .black mark against Waitara." "For | what?" I asked. "For the reason that l m - j 11 ? - ve£ J r9 a °° Association pro- . vided Waitara with fire appliances, and , there was only a spasmodic effort on I the brigade's part to work it; and I I««S ect tll ' s w k e same." I replied, | That was before my time, but we have different people in Waitara now" (not .casting any reflection on the old identities). However, Mr. Corkill said the ew Plymouth Association had been absorbed by the Auckland Association, and we would need to write to the sec- ; retary of the Fire Underwriters' Association there, and that no doubt the matter would be referred back to New llymouth for report. I thanked Mr. Corkill, and we parted. This is practically word for word what transpired. W0V(1 whatever was mentioned about procuring a complete equipment, or as to the inadequacy of the present applianoes. No remark was made by Mr Corkill. to me, as to the work done by the brigade—good, bad or indifferent—or as to its poor plant. I further wish to say that I have in no way distorted any fact mentioned by Mr. Corkill, and resent his uncalled-for remarks in regard to my smartness and distortions and suggest they better be kept for someone else to whom they are applicable.—l am, etc., _ TIIOS. BUCHANAN, Town Clerk. Waitara, Nov. 25, 1010.