THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3147, 20 March 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1879.

Thb wisdom of the coarse taken by the Water Supply Committee in laying down the 9 inch main through the principal streets of Grahamstown was amply proved this morning at the fire at the Commercial Hotel, There is not now two opinions upoor the subject, although at the time the work was undertaken a considerable amount of discussion took place, and Messrs Ehrenfreid and Price, and the other members of the committee, who so persistently advocated the work, were spoken of in anything but complimentary terms. The fire this morning had a good hold of the building before the water commenced to play upon it, and few persons who were there thought it would be possible to save the adjoining buildings. The Fire Brigade very soon had no less.than six jets of water pitying,upon the flames, which quickly reduced the volume, and prevented the adjoining buildings from being more than scorched. The fact that a fire can be so kept under as it was this morning, in a large wooden building in a block of others, of similar construction, is cause: for r thankfulness, and is a position that this community should be grateful for. This excellent supply of

water, it must be remembered, is obtained from the large race, and thanks are due to the County authorities; and it is creditable to the management of the«uppjy,.th^t upon such an emergency the. water/ Was so. readily obtainable. In the (present state of business on the field a destructive fire would be a calamity^ MjhaC' wVtr^Bt will not visit us, for its effects would be ruin to our future prospects.