THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1901.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 176, 16 July 1901, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1901.

Perhaps the need of an efficient water-supply: in this town was *. hewr so strongly borne home to dwellers.iii ttaionat* thai, it was yesterday mornings But for the fortunate accident of a perfectly, calm morning no one can prophecy how much damage wonld have been done, and there was in that cigd no hope of competing against the flames. We must compliment ourselves on having as energetic and comip'etent brigade as cofltd be wished for, and their efforts against such long odds have roused up a great amount of enthusiasm. It is, indeed, another fortunate thing tb«fe... in the late discussion as to the subsidy of the.Br.igi.(|e the scales turned iii"'their favour. Had it not been so they wontd probably ere this have been, disbanded and. the worst fire in fourteen yearsmight have been left to wreak its will almost unchecked. Not that we think our firemen would have stood idly by in a moment of necessity, no matter how badihoir h\xt the dange* should not be incurred. We treat our firemen very cavalierly, an-! question their usefulness till the time for action arises, and then is pJiown how utterly dependent upon them we are. Our own

opinion is that the Brigaae should be municipalised, as is dono iu many other places. We could then see for ourselves that there was every appliance for coping with fires, aud if need be should strike a special rate and let all bear an equal share of the upkeep of what has proved itself an eminently useful organisations At present their existence is hand to

mouth) although the member* voluntarily give their services and incur in many instances exceedingly gave risks to life and limb. If Wecanuot have a water supply* let us have an increased number of street tanks y regularly cleaned and maintained in a watertight condition. We do not think for one moment that any water supply conld' have saved the burning building* but even in a strong wind it might have saved those on the opposite sjde of the road, which " we're otherwise doomed. The need is nrgent,.le* us not sink back into the apathy of years, but satisfy ourselves of the practicability of a scheme and then adopt it without delay*.