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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1026, 29 November 1872, Page 2

The intelligence of the serious outbreak of fires in Auckland and Christchurch should serve as a reminder to residents in Westport of the unprotected state of their own hearths and homos. It is true we can boast of a fire brigade, presumedly well organised, and having at command a good engine and certain working eeav; but how about the one essential element of water ? Rome months since stand pipes could bo found hero and there from which a supply might be drawn, and at convenient places rows cf buckets were hung, and thus to some slight extent the means of promptly extinguishing any incipient conflagration were at hand. But consequent upon the removal and re-erection of buildings upon other sites, these primitive but common sense appliances have nearly ail vanished, arid it becomes a question for the serious consideration of the Fire Brigade as to what new precautionary measures they will adopt as aids to the prevention of fires. Tho river of course would yield an iuex-

h i ustible supply of water if the brigade were furnished with sufficient lengths of suction hose to lift water therefrom, and also means to extend it along the lino of streets to the scene of any probable disaster. Additional bucket stands might also bo erected at the corner of each street, but it seems the height of folly to leave such matters for discussion until after au outbreak of fire has given ocular demonstration of the necessity for action. If funds are needed for the purpose, the mere interest of self-protection should be sufficient to prompt the hearty cooperation of the public with the Brigade; and if objections are raised to going round with a subscription list upon the plea that the public have of late been rather heavily taxed in similar fashion, the members of the Brigade might devise some form of evening entertainment or out-door recreation during the coming holiday season, wherefrom a sufficient fund might accrue to enable the necessary precautionary measures to bo adopted. A word to the wise is sufficient.