The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 188, 18 June 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1879.

On Sunday night last as good ]>eoj>l( in Masterton returned to their home! from the various places of worship ii the Borough a lurid sky to tin; sout'i was observed by many, but lew dream the euuso of the glare was the Urges conflagration which had ever takei piece in what is termed the Kmpin City. "Wellington lias hitherto beei remuvkableforitscomparativeinnnuiiiti from large fires, and if the Insuranci Companies in the present instance an heavy losors, their premiums for man; years past ought to leave the balance o profit and loss in their ov/n favor, li a town the size of Wellington, consis! ing mainly of unprotected woodei buildings, the destruction of one o more blocks of buildings was sooner o later inevitable. Nor has the provisioi made for extinguishing fires been sue! as to altogether reassure the mind o the public when a more than ordinar; conflagration should occur. Wellingtoi ought to have an unlimited supply c water, and it would have been quit possible, with a marine engine, to hav conquered the devouring element o Sunday last. Prevention however i better than cure, and the true policy c Municipal authorities is to insist upo fire-proof coverings for all' building congregated in blocks. It is some, cor ' solation to know that the five acres c ■buildings burnt down at Te Aro will b certain to be covered, when ra-ercctct with fire-pvoof material. The quartc has been devastated once, but in tli future it will be literally sale li'om an recurrence of such a calamity. It wi be safe while other parts oi the Cit will be in danger of the fate of Sunda last, It is a misfortune that the ever has happened at a period of dupressioi when it will be more difficult for ind viduals .to surmount their losses than i a time when the money market woul be easy, and assistance from all quartei more readily procurable, Misfortune however, proverbially come togethe and we can only hope that the win will be tempered as much as possible f all shorn lambs, and that as, has oftc been the case, the trial rightly bon: will, only develop the better qualities < the English race—making a time < adversity usher in a new era of pro polity.