FIRE MAINS FOR SHORTLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3495, 8 March 1880, Page 2

FIRE MAINS FOR SHORTLAND.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.)

Sib,—l, see by a local in your issue of Saturday night that the various Fire Insurance . Companies have agreed amony themselves to raise the tariff. Now this naturally brings us back to the question so warmly taken up by your paper some time ago with regard to the laying down of the nine-inch pipes. You will remember a number of gentlemen promised to sub-' scribe sums for this purpose varying from £10 to £5, and there the matter seemed to rest. One valuable suggestion you made at the time has never been acted on, namely, a house to house canvass, and yet it cannot be from poverty that this unheard of supineness exists in a matter so preeminently important to our welfare. Surely not—if our citizens can afford to send thousands of miles : away for a few hundred pounds to help the heathen Chinee, hundreds more for the Irish Famine Fund. A few hundred more to India and the Lord only knows where besides, surely there must be a few soverigns at least left in the place. Are we to wait until half of Shorlland i 3 burnt down, before cither our Borough Council or our local men will bestir themselves in the matter p Is "it from indifference to our urgent wants that our local representatives fail to take the matter up P It is not I admit, a pleasant

thing to go round hat in hand begging for shillings, but it is not one whit more unpleasant than doing tbe same thing for the Indian, Chinese or Irish funds, aud would have the additional" merit of keeping the money in the district and in finding employment fcr our own people. We have ell heard a greafdeal of. the value of public meetings; now, could not you, Sir, take the necessary steps to insure one being called at which a committee might be- appointed to take this matter up in a business manner. I enclose toy curd in compliance with your regulations, and remain, Sir, yours, &c, Fire-escape. Thames, March 6th, 1880.' P.S.—The above was. written before the fire occurred at Mr Aitken's place yesterday morning, which again showed how necessary a good supply is to the safety of the township.