FIRE!

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1239, 8 June 1880, Page 3

FIRE!

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I have not yet heard that anything has been done to second Mr Vnlou's efforts in the Council when he was Mayor, to provide Hamilton with the means of extinguishing any fires which might take place on either side the river. Yon have done what lay in your power to induce the people to take up the subject, but I cannot see that anything practical has resulted, ihe case stands thus I apprehend : There are two ladders and a small hydrant on the verandah of the Hamilton Hotel ; but, so far as I know, there is no organisation afloat to that in case of fire it would be somebody's business to get the ladders and another mans' business to get the hydrant and '-omebody ehes business to see that the things are ready when the hydrant is brought to the scene of conflagration. We have no water cocks in Hamilton ; if large building, such as the Oddfellows' Hall or St. Peter's Church caught fire there would be some difficulty in obtaining water enough to do any good. The hydrant above mentioned holds about 2\ or 3 gallons of water, and the pipe is about 8 feet long and three -quarters of an inch mouthpiece, with six canvass buckets. Now, what possible good could these be if the Oddfellows' Hall —or a large place like Mr Vulou's or the Hamilton Hotel caught fire ; there would be no possible chance of saving them. It seems to me Hint what is wanted is afire-engine, to be worked by f-ay three men on a side, with hose sufficient to reach from the river to the engine, and from the engine to the sccnefof the conflagration. As you s.iid in your loader of February 19, tlio Fire Insurance Companies supplied the engine and the Town Bo'ird supplied the hose at Tauranga. Is it not possible for the Council to apply to the different Insurance Companies for assistance, and find the balance out of the rates, and then enrol a dozen or score young men in a Brisrade, and keep the whole of the plant in a shed at say the B mucks, cqui-dihtsmt from each side of the river, or in a shed next to the Bridgekeeper's cottage. Surely in a place like Hamilton enough men miyht be f°und to attsi^t in an association like this, and. it possibly miiiht do something to foster that fellow-foeling which cioth make us wondrous kind, which is none too btrong ill small communities. Fancy the loss to individuals, and thereupon indirectly to the community ;it lnrjre, if any of the block of buildings ftom G Wynne's to Martyns butcher's .■hop caught fhe. Of course, the whole would go, and everybody would wonder why Hamilton folks took so long to cany out anything. Let this thought stir us up to something- like energy.-- -I am, &c, William Caldee. St. Peter's Parsonage, June 7, 1880.