THE WESTERN FIRE STATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6208, 2 March 1904, Page 2

THE WESTERN FIRE STATION.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sts, —I see in the report of the Borough Council meeting of last Monday, that an attempt is being made to remove the curricle fire engine from the west side of the town to the main station, and I think that the western residents (who are the owners of this engine) should be consulted. The Western Firo Brigade was established for the benefit principally of the residents on the west side of the town. When charge of the engine was handed over to the Borough Council, an agreement was duly prepared and executed, and trustees for the western residents were appointed. A clause in this agreement stated, if my memory serves me, that the engine is to be kept on the west side of the town, and that the Council were to see that there was a sufficient number of firemen to work it, and failing this the custody of the engine reverted to. the trustees. This agreement, so far as I know, has not been cancelled, and is still in force. The reasons for making this application to the Council are that_ the steamer gets to a fire before the curricle and that if kept at the main station the curricle would be more useful. These arguments are not absolutely correct. In many cases the curricle has got to work considerably before the steamer, and as to its utility it is certainly more useful on the west side for the objects it was obtained for. Perhaps the real reasons might be that the joints of those whose duty it is to I look after and clean the engine, dry the hose, etc., are stiller than they were some years ago, and it would be more convenient if all the plant were at the main station, or that the western engine station obstructs the view from some of the private residen* ces. Be that as it may, it is to be hoped that the Borough Council will not sanction this request, but will issue instructions to have the curricle returned to its own station, from which it has been absent, I am informed, for a month or more.—l am, etc., One of the Promoters of the Western Fire Brigade.