The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 141, 30 April 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1879.

Toe fire at Winchester, referred to in our local news, has all the appearance of being a case of incendiarism, indeed it is almost impossible it could have happened otherwise. It warns us to be prepared for a visit of this class of criminals. Temuka has been, we'are glad to say, remarkably exempt from fires, none having yet occurred in the township. Are we to be always so highly favored iu this district ? Fires seem to be the order of the day in all other parts of the colony, and if it should come to our turn next how are we to meet it. True we have a fire engine and a fire brigade, but is it a body that we can go to' rest at night and trust our lives to if our premises took fire, or were set fire to by an incendiary. We have from time to time recorded the practices of our Volunteer Eire Brigade, and been much pleased with the activity displayed by the officers and members, but when we made enquiries as to the state of the funds we were not a little taken aback to find that with all this effort, all this organisation, all this practising, nothing has been done by the township to aid or assist in any way by procuring funds. The various insurance companies have contributed, but what have the owners of property done 1 Is it to be expected that a set of men will go on wasting their energies and spending precious time to save other people's property if that party will not assist with pecuniary aid. Not even a bucket, not even a ladder, or even the simplest badge is provided whereby the members of the brigade can, in case of fire, be distinguished from the crowd. Now what would be our position if fire occurs without volunteers to work the engine 1 We could only stand and look on at the ravages of the devouring element. It is well known that iu no case is a property insured to the full value, some not insured at all. Loss would therefore be sustained in whichever property it might arise, and if criminality is coming so close to our doors is it not possible, that our turn is coming 1 The break down in the arson case in Christchurch lately will have the tendency to embolden those who are addicted to this cl.nss of crime. Wc therefore feel it our duty to warn the owners of property that unless they assist with funds they cannot expect that the brigade will hold together. Would it not be well for some one or two to canvass the town for subscriptions to aid the efforts of our able and willing youngfriends who devote evening after evening without even an applauding word. No owner of property, we feci sure, would withhold his mite for this praiseworthy object.