WAITARA NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 270, 11 May 1912, Page 3

WAITARA NEWS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Tin- elTiciencv of the water service and the capability of the Fire Brigade. whs amply demonst rated on \\ morning about 7.30. when the Clifton Boardinghotiso. a very old building, at Die corner of WVbl Quay and Whittaker street, was discovered to be on live. tt was not long »ft<* the discovery that I lie Fire Brigade were on the scene, when it was found that dense smoke was issuing from practically all around the building, and with the knowledge, of the age of the place the general opinion was that the building was doomed to destruction. But with a promptitude and knowledge of the task before thorn the Brigade set to work with such a will that within fifteen minutes they had the fiery element mastered without a great deal of the building being harmed by fire. The water supply was so copious that after having done its work upstairs, where the seat of the fire apparently was, it simply poured out of the front doors in a stream. The origin of the fire is

not known, but from an inspection everything points to its having originated in an upstairs bedroom to the south-west corner, this room being practically burnt right out. Some of the adjacent rooms are charred, but the efforts of the Brigade, desipte a mountain wind, kept the fire within a small compass. Needless to say, bedding, clothing, etc., is much damaged by water, and some small amount by fire. Both building and furniture were insured, the former in the Commercial Union office, and the latter in the South British office for £250. Mrs. Fairlcy, who occupied the place, was leaving within a few days, and a sale of the contents was to have taken place .in the afternoon. Why on earth property owners in the block do not make, a more determined effort to get something like justice meted out to'them from the insurance companies is a connundrum. Here we have what has proved a most efficient water supply, with a very high pressure, a fire brigade fit to cope with any conflagration that may break out, and a plant that has proved capable of expeditiously and satisfactorily quenching the flames, yet the rates of insurance are the,same as prior to the inauguration of the water scheme and its consequent benefits to insurance companies. Take the fire which destroyed the late. Mr. Snell's property. Without (lie brigade and water, what would have saved Messrs doll Bros.' premises? From that point, how much further would it have spread, and with what consequences to the companies? Probably the amount of insurances they would have had to pay would have been (thousands. The fire on Wednesday [ morning was another instance. Without the efficient fire-fighters and appliances the adjoining property was doomed, and in all probability great damage, if not total abolition, of ITatrick's building would have resulted. The position is monstrous. miil shows the cormorant 1 ne'es of insurance companies and a lack of iniliatirc on the part of the properl v-owners affected. The very silght efforts made to obtain a reduction were not such as would have any effect on those who are representing the receivers of premiums. It. was naturally anticipated at the inception of the wafer scheme proposals that Waitara would receive the same consideration of reduction of premiums as has applied in other places, and it seems to be the duty of those who are compelled to pay extortionate sums in this respect to place the matter in a more forcible manner before the companies, unless they are prepared to still go on paying a most excessive rate.