THE SHORTLAND BRIGADE VINDICATED.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4334, 21 November 1882, Page 2

THE SHORTLAND BRIGADE VINDICATED.

(To the Editor of the "Evening Stab.) Sic, —In your leading article in yester« day's issue reference is made in anything but complimentary terms to the manner in which the Shortland Fire Brigade performed their duties on the occasion of the fire at Mr Dann's, and .; as-.it is likely to injure the Brigade in the eyes of the public, I think a few words of explanation are necessary. On. the sound of the alarm, some of the public having no connection whatever with the Briga c, ran to the fire shed and took out the hose reel without having a member of the Brigade with them and on arriving at the scene of the fire there were two firemen just come on the spot, and not noticing who was at the reel, they shipped the hydrant and got the hose connected. Meanwhile those at the reel, not knowing what to do, ran with it away from the fire altogether and the hose all ran off, and was left lying anyhow. When another hydrant was shipped opposite the Imperial Hotel the hose had to be turned end for end, which no doubt gave the public cause to think that the membeTs did not know their duty. That is how the Grahamstown, Brigade were cut out of the plug which they seemed so hart about. If Brigade men had been at the reel, the plug opposite Bobbet's would hate been taken up first on the way to the fire, and the ! other plug would have been left free for the Grahamstown Brigade. It is hardly fair that the Shortland Brigade should be called con efficient, when it was all through the public interfering. It is rather hard for men who volunteer their services, and spend time in practice, to have the public, who know, nothing of what is to be done, to interfere with them at a time when every minute ia of the greatest importance, and it would be a great favor if the public would let the men who volunteer to do the work have their own way. They may do it with the best of intentions, but still the upset all the arrangements, and cause confusion.— I am, &c, Fireman.

Shortland, Nor. 21, 1881