The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1866.

We trust that very few days will be allowed to pass before the announcement is made that an efficient Fife Brigade has been formed in Nelson. It is uofc complimentary to the sagacity or public spirit of the people thafc a destructive fire was uecessary to arouse them to a sense of duty in this respect. Scarcely a towa ia the colony with a quarter of our population is without its society of some kind or another whose avocation is to prevent aud extinguish fires. The combustible nature of the buildings, the carelessness of servants and lodgers, the recklessness of travellei-s who smoke iu bed, aud a number of other circumstances — render fires possible occurrences, aud it is the part of true wisdom to be prepared for such contingencies. That Nelsou has suffered so little from lire in comparison with other towns is remarkable iu the extreme. The infrequeucy of fires has had a bad effect iu leading to the indulgence of a false security, and postponing the adoption of preventive and remedial measures, Avithout which the repose which has been felt, was deceptive aud dangerous. Fire has at last broken out amongst us with all its attendant horrors. Valuable property has been destroyed. Men, women, and children in great numbers have been driven from house and home, and a large amount of suffering and distress has been produced, which the eye of pity will never see or the hand of beneficence alleviate. There is but one opinion amongst us also, as to the fact that a great portion of this misery might have been prevented. If there was an amount of disgraceful apathy showu on the one hand at the recent fire, there was an equal amount of misplaced energy and unintelligent effort on the other. A small quantity of water would have prevented a conflagration in oue place, and a concentration of effort would have secured valuable results in another. The lesson inculcated by the late five is the necessity of having a well disciplined body of men, acting in concert, in conformity -with n pre-arranged plan, under the orders of an eulighteued chief, and with a view to accomplish by co-operative energy, what can never be effected by unmethodical efforts, however powerfully employed or enthusiastically directed. • It is much easier to enforce the necessity of a Fire Brigade, than to point with certainty to the way ia which ifc is to be established. Locai jealousies have to be removed, aud people taught to uuite for a common purpose who have been accustomed to act in favor of isolated objects. The volunteer system has many adrnirei's and has worked well iu many places. The volunteer is supposed to be a grade higher than fche mercenary fireman. He does not, work for pay, bufc for the pleasure he feels in protecting the lives and property of his fellow townsmen. There is an amount of energy and enthusiasm found in a body of volunteer firemen thafc is rarely found among those who expect to be paid for their services. These valuable qualities where directed by an enlightened and experienced chief, wili work wonders. There is not a much grander sight than the turn out of a Volunteer Fire Brigade on the first alarm of fire. Every man is at the post assigned him, at a few minutes notice. The fire engines are rolled to the scene of danger with incredible expedition. Ladders are placed to the burning buildings to enable the inmates to escape, or the firemen to ascend the blazing roof. Buckets are forthcoming to dash water where small quantities may be deemed useful. Axes are ready to cut down any dangerous fragments, and hooks to reach those parts which it would' be difficult to ascend. Tf a building is found to be iu the way of the means employed to subdue the fire ifc is ruthlessly destroyed, atid the smoking ruins are attended by relays of men so long as there is work to be done or danger to be encountered. It is of little consequence whether the voluntary or paid system be adopted in Nelson, so that an efficient Fire Brigade be at once formed. The voluntary plan is sup-

posed to be characterised by spirit and enthusiasm, and the other to be more amenable to discipline and control. The occasion, is urgent, and there is little time to waste in arguing about the merits or demerits of different systems. The town must be prepared to support the brigade by subscriptions, and the Board of Works, and the Provincial Government, must, if possible, assist in the support of a body so indispensable to the public safety. A certain expense, will be incurred in placing the engines iu working order, furnishing the necessary hose and other appliances which are needed to make the body efficient. Care must be taken that the captain be elected by the body, and not forced upon it irrespective of fitness to discharge the important duties. The rules of other Fire Brigades may be studied with advantage, aud as the thing is so new to Nelson, the committee appointed to consider the question will do well to avail themselves of all the information they can obtain before committing themselves to any definite course of action. As the most efficient Fire Brigade in the world would be useless without a good supply of water, the attention of the committee should be specially directed to the attainment of this great desideratum. In a future number, we will offer some suggestions on the best mode of economising existing water supplies.