The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 242, 11 May 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1868.

Tt is a remarkable though an easily explained fact that in places where insurance is impossible fires are extraordinarily rare. The towns on the West Coast are striking instances of this immunity, llokitika, Grreymoutb, Charleston, and Westport, are built wholly of wood, or the still more easily ignited canvass, and yet up to the present time there has not been a fire in one of them of the slightest importance, or where the damage has been more than trifling. Without doubt this fortunate circumstance is owing to greater care on the part of the respectable people, and a knowledge on the part of the unprincipled that, irrespective of the legal danger and penalties of arson, there is nothing to be gained by wilfully burning down their premises. Still, even taking into consideration the above preventatives, it is really surprising that in crowded places where the fireplaces are none of the safest, where the buildings are constructed with the most inflammable materials, whero sobriety in all people is by no means the rule, and where the slightest carelessness might with ease burn a street or two down, we have escaped so long. In Hokitika they have at least prepared for the evil day. That town possesses a thoroughly efficient Volunteer Brigade—properly trained and drilled, a first-class fire-engine,, hooks, ladders, escapes, hose-reels, and carriage, and every other necessary appliance, together with engine-house and a good sized room for drill, meetings, <fec. Fortunately their services have never been called into serious requisition, but when they are there is no doubt that they will prove of incalculable value. At Greymouth, too, a brigade has been formed, but we do not know how they have progressed. At Charleston there is no such organisation ; and in Westport, though a fire brigade has been talked of for months, it has never advanced further than the conversational stage of development, and apparently never will till half the town is burnt down. When the mythical steed has been stolen, the Westportians, with the usual energetic apathy that so specially distinguishes them, will carefully lock the allegorical stable door. Warnings are sent, but we greatly doubt whether any heed will be paid them, the latest being the very narrow escape of Friday evening last. Had the Nelson Hotel once fairly caught, no power that Westport could bring

to bear would have had the slightest effect in checking the flames, and the probability is, that the whole block would have been consumed before the fire was stayed. In the first place, there was no disciplined organisation whatever, and there would have been the usual scene of confusion and destruction that invariably prevails under such circumstances ; in the next place there are no appliances whatever in the town for the extinguishment of fire beyond the common hand bucket; how supremely ridiculous such aids would have been in case of a mass of timber like the Nelson Hotel being fairly alight, does not require a very lively imagination to conceive. Last, though by no means least, there is no water supply whatever, and beyond a few buckets got with difficulty and delay from the surrounding wells, no water whatever could have been got Taken altogether then, we may fairly assume that if a fire once obtained anything like a hold in this town, all that the inhabitants can do is to scream and rave, rush about and do no good, or calmly and patiently wait till it is burnt out. Any moment may bring about the catastrophe, and we are as steadily indifferent as though we were franked against danger, and were exempt from the perils of other places. "We have wooden houses, canvas partitions, iron fireplaces, and stoves that sometimes get red-hot within a foot or so of the wall, on the one hand, and on the other, no brigade, no engine, no hose, no water. No town was ever in greater danger of disaster from the " devouring element" and in less danger of being in the slightest degree protected from it. The next consideration is, whether the public are satisfied with this condition of affairs, or whether they will, without delay, protect themselves, their families, and their properties, as far as possible, by the immediate formation of a firebrigade, and by providing at once in the best, manner possible, for a water supply that, however insufficient, may be the means of arresting a conflagration in its early stage. The Government would no doubt assist in the matter, either with money or material in the shape of fire appliances, and even, if this was refused, it would be more economical in the end for the business people to put their hands into their pockets and subscribe for the purchase of a proper engine, &c., than to have their houses and goods burnt over their heads. The outlay of a few pounds now may be the means of saving them hundreds, perhaps thousands, on a future occasion ; no one knows on whom the first blow will fall, and it is well for all to be prepared. The formation of the Volunteer Rifle Corps has shown that there are public spirited men amongst us, if some one will only take the lead, and out of those ranks we doubt not a Volunteer Eire-Brigade will be largely recruited. Surely, when every one in the place is alike threatened with a common danger, it is high time to make common cause in self defence. Nothing is easier, nothing is more required than the formation of a Brigade —will the Westport people take the matter up, or will they listlessly wait before doing so for a severe practical lesson in the shape of a disastrous fire, accompanied by serious destruction of property, and possibly loss of life ? we hope the former course may be the chosen one.