PROPOSED FIRE BRIGADE FOR CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2027, 4 July 1885, Page 3

PROPOSED FIRE BRIGADE FOR CAMBRIDGE.

This matter w.is further tonsideied at a special meeting of the town Wild on Thursday forenoon. A letter was read from K. Porter and Co., Auckland, orFeiing to indent the engine foi ."> \. Mr Hewitt said that the respective in surance companies h.id been communicated with a* to what diffeience a file bngule, witli an abundant water supply and a steam hie engine, would make in the puce of insurance. Ko reply had as yet been lecctved to that communication. He did not think they could do anything furthei in the matter until a reply was received. Mr Gillett thought they ought to get some practical man to give them some idea about a gravitation water supply scheme. There was a suitable creek at Mangakawa, which would supply the wants of Cambridge for many years to come. There was also an excellent site for a reservoir here, which could be constructed at a very small cost. Mi Houghton said the giaviation scheme had been befoie the public for the last five jears. Mr (Jillett said that Mr Knington had reported on this scheme, and he was of opinion that there was not sufficient water in it. JJut Mr Errington had been calculating that Cambridge was a large city, or piomiscd to be one in a very short time. <Ir Houghton said he was one of the original committee that accompanied Mi Ei ringtan round to the vanous sources, tttoney Creek (Mangakawa) was the one that was approved of. There was sufficient water theie to supply a tiwn five times as largo as Cambiidge. That scheme however would cost about €10,000. Mr (Jillett said in all then estimates they had put down Cambudge as wanting a supply of water five or six tunes over and above its actual reqimemenls. Theio were not 20 people in the town who would take the water foi domestic purposes even when it was brought to them. They wanted something for fire purposes. Mr Houghton said it was evident they could not raise the large sum of money re quired for a giavitation scheme. Mr Gillett thought they could get a gravitation scheme for less than £2000. Mr Hewittt did not think the iatepayer» would listen to such an amount as that even being raised for this purpose. Mr Gillett did not think the ratepayers would vote for the loan at all unless they (the board) weie able to .show them .i diiect benefit. One benefit would have to be the reduction in fire insurance. Mr Hewitt thought they might deal with the fire engine now and the matter of a water supply could follow. Mr (iillett thought they must get the water first. Respecting a iccent meeting of ratepayer held at the public hall, Mr Lewis said he did not behe\e in it. It was not a repiesentative meeting. Jt had not been propeily convened. Mr Hewitt considered it a very good meeting and thoroughly repiesentative. There weie about 80 latepayera present. Mr Houghton said he had been speaking to the repiesentative of the South British Insurance Company recently and that gentleman told him that the staitmg of a fire bugadc would materially alter the cost of insuiance on houses that weie detached. It would not make much difference in Duke street. Mr (Jillett : Then it's not going to do us much good after all. Mr Houghton : Certainly it will do lib good. In respect to insurance it will, benefit you. If a iiie broke out at Howitt's corner it could bo checked before it could spread far, whereas at the present time there is nothing to pi event it taking the street w ith it. All Hewitt thought if the piosent companies would not take their n«ks there were other companies who would only be too glad to, and so they would soon have opposition. Mr Houghton said he had got notice from the New Zealard office, and they would not renew any policies in Duke street until the people had protected themselves in some way. Mr Hewitt thought if the cotrpanies would not reduce the premiums they would merely take risks and would that not be an advantage ? Mr Lewis : If I could bo "atisfied that we could get an efficient water supply and the fire engine for £4000 I would at once give the matter my support. Respecting the mipoiting of the fire engine, Mr Lewis said he considered the board was jti«t ,is capable of indenting it as any body pise. They would save the usual commission*. The matter then dioppod.

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