The Evening Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 458, 29 June 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1871.

Fire Inspectors have just been appointed for the city. We do not desire to depreciate any office or any officer, but we really do not see any very great advantage in such appointments as things are. The fire brigade and their officers are, to quote a favourite phrase, " promptly on the spot," but when there, their usefulness extends very little beyond gazing on the progress of the blaze. "We do not in this" say anything disparaging to those who have enrolled themselves for the suppression of our conflagrations. We believe they would do all that men could do ; but to extinguish a fire without something to do it with, is what neither they nor any other man could do. We do not mean to vainly add another to the urgent cries for " more water;" but as this element may probably nat be provided for a very long time to come, we would urge the consideration of the new application of art and science for the extinction of fires. The " Extincteur," as recently tested at Woolwich, is the newest form of the various contrivances for smothering flames, and, as recorded in late English papers, has been subjected to a test, than which nothing could be more decisive. Wood shavings, resin, petroleum casks, and straw, perhaps about as inflammable a combination as could well be imagined, when set in a blaze were quenched in two minutes and a quarter by the machine, which squirted water, surcharged with carbonic acid. If our Municipal Council would not be deterred by the bugbear of " fancy legislation," and, in conjunction with the Insurance Companies, procure a copy of the machine, we do not hesitate to say that, unless report isjn this case a rare deceiver, a great deal of valuable property might be saved, and a great boon be conferred on -citizens.