MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1339, 29 March 1883, Page 2

MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

; (To the Editor.) " : Sir—At' a ; .meeting of .the Fire-Bri-gade last evening I was directed to ask •you to correct a statement in, your wport.of the-late fire to the effect that ' bbinggiven, and' water reaching the fire. . .This; ; is so! fur ,jinfcruoi that-..not many minutes elapsed before pumping was commenced andajetthrown from: , the. large-engine,- when itbrokedowri

and the smaller engine had to be Substituted, and "watSt" was thrown from smaller engine considerably within tba half hour quoted from your report, No doubt Sir, the smartness which usually characterises the Brigade, was somewhat wanting on Saturday night, and your strictures are not altogether undeserved, but there: were causes for it, which at least deserve to be stated. At the present time nearly half the members of >, the Brigade Jpre. recruits,•:-of~s whom three at least/have. neveri aV, / tended a single. practice,. and in ad-.', dition to this lot it be remembered that water had to be sent nearly .eleven ; chains' from> the engine to the : fir&,: V Again-' the plant which we have to use and with which we are expected ta do,goo<J wprk,,is miserably insufficient and totaliy, inadequate 4o thp; require? ' ments ; ;of the- town, awl before jtbe)o brigade,can attain the position of use-, fulness which every member is striving for, the public of Mabterton must' put'" its ,handa i:: a''little deeper into its pockets; In conclusion, lei me point out thai whether the work of the brigade was done well or'ill it was at'feast' ! cheerfully and freely given, no member expecting either rcvVard or thanks for , ; his services, in contraat to those; ,wh'o were with difficulty induced by promises of payment .fe.seborid: the efforts of the brigade, and who will Bwallow up the few pounds,, possessed;, by the devoted to the purchase .of needed ap- , pliances, . ■/, Yours etc /■. . Wm, M. Easthope, . . ,Hon Sec.