The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1882.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4320, 4 November 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1882.

There was a rery long and somewhat acrimonious discussion at the last meeting of the Borough Council orer the question as to Whether half of the annual donation from the Insurance Companies to the Fire Brigades was to be paid to the Shortland Brigade. It will be remembered that a few months ago it was proposed to amalgamate the brigades and hare one central station about the Karaka bridge. However, this was not done, as the Shortland Brigade made certain proposals which were accepted. The policy that brigade adopted was explained by the secretary at the annual meeting, lie said they were willing to amalgamate, but saw no chance of baring an equal roice in the election of officers and men. They were asked to make a proposal, and did so. They calculated they could obtain £30 to £40 subscriptions iv their own district, and adding to that the £25 coming from the Inaurance Companies, they might undertake to maintain the .brigade for £70 per annum. He said the Grahamstown Brigade had been paid their half of the Companies' money, but his brigade had uot; and concluded by saying that if the Borongh intended' to keep that money, which wag always regarded as a present

to the brigades, it would have to dispense ' with the services of the Shortland Brigade. The matter assumed & fresh as poet at the Council meeting. The Town Clerk maintained that the Short" land brigade's offer of £70 included everything ; and he was supported by two or three councillors. Mr Dean even went so far as to assert (hat there was an understanding that the £25 was not to go to the brigade, consequent^ it was impounded as Borough funds. But it seems to us that the Town Clerk has rather stultified himself, for if the £25 was not to take the form of a present to the Grahamstown Fire Brigade why was it handed over to that brigade? The money, surely, should simply have been placed to the credit of the Borough, as an acceptable addition to the funds of that body: The Brigade's wants are provided for by the Council, the accounts being paused for payment at the Council's meetings; no mouey is handed over to the brigade for expenditure. It, therefore, appears that Mr Daan and his adherents violated the principle which they themselves laid down by giving this £25 to the Brigade a* pocket money to be expended as it pleased/ and without responsibility to the Council. Sat the Council has taken a new departure, which is practically an. admission of error. Cr Osborne has carried a motion to the effect that a report be brought up at next meeting as to the relative strength of the brigades, so that the £50 may be divided at so much per head, five ooupcilLors put of seven votieg for this petty course. The Grahams town Brigade numbers about 26 members, and the Shortland one 18 or 20, and yet, for this difference, it has been decided to depart from the custom of years, and convert this gift into a capitation grant. Virtually the Shortland Brigade has scored a victory, for the Council has admitted that the principle for which the brigade contended is correct. But apparently, in the eyes of some Grahamstown and Tararu councillors, the Shortland Brigade has been guilty of a great crime in endeavoring to exist at all. It should have yielded up the ghost when it received the first gentle hint to do so, decently and in order, and no doubt if it had acted in a manner so respectable, it would have been honorably consigned to oblivion by a grand funeral oration from the power behind the Borough Council.