CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4127, 25 September 1883, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Extinction of Fires,

(To the Editor.)

Sin,—l am not a nervous man, but during the short time I have beey in Auckland there have been several fives. I can partly understand tho frequency of these oui> breaks ; the houses i:ve built of combustible materials, and in a dry climate they must be very inflammable. But in order to meet the contingency of tire, I am glad to ebserv* that you have firebella and fire-alarms electrically connected with the headquarters of the I'ire Brigade, and that this latter body appears to be an energetic nn«l efficient corps. Auckland however, is a city which covers a considerable area; and, in spite of the admirable contrivances in force for combating an outbreak of fire, there appear to be wanting some further means, .some additional appliances for the suppression of fires especially for dealing promptly with the first signs of an outbreak. In many tonrnj in England the iire extincteur is kept in readiness, and is often saiiioient-in itself to quench a considerable blaze. The eitincteur and fire-buckets are frequently seen alongside each other in many business premises, and theyare largely used by corporate' bodies, as they are comparativelj inexpensive and they are easily moved about. I can imagine that this apparatus would be exceedingly useful in Auckland, as it could be readily and expeditiously carried on the back to any part of the city directly there was an alarm of fire, and us?d with effect before the arrival of tlio engines. Another want seems to be quicker means for getting the iire engines and brigade to the scene of operations. When Auckland was of comparatively small area it was to propel the engine by manual labour, but now the distances traversed are considerable and the labour very great. It is perhaps • rather early to speak of applying steam to the fire engines, although this is what is being done at Home in many places. But well-trained horses should always be available, and these should be harnessed to the fire-engine and driven with j all speed to the scene of an outbreak. The firemen riding on the engine would commence their labours without fatigue and without flurry, which invariably result from the exertion of propelling the engine any distance. One other remark I would make, and that is, that the instructions for using' the fire-alarms should be either painted on n board or printed on zinc, so as to be imperishable. I was about to read one of the "Instructions" at the end of Xapier-street the other day, and fonnd half of it torn away ; so that if I had wanted to use the alarm I could not tell how to do so. If these remarks arc of any service, you ara at liberty to publish them.—l am, etc., J.B.

To the Editor: Sir,—On Friday, August 31 st, I posted a petition to the Legislative Council, to a member of the body forprementation. It ought to have been delivered in Wellington on the following Tuesday (Sept. 4th),four days before the prorogation of the General Assembly. I know not the exact date on which it was delrrered, but it was too late for presentation. It related to the unlawful expulsion of a British subject, the Honourable Horei Kerei Taiaroa, from the Legislative Council, and it prayed that tbo members should invite him to take his seat amongst them again as a member of the body, to which office he had been duly nominated for life by : Her Majesty the Queen. Tho gentleman to whom I forwarded the petition wrote to me on the Bth inst., but I only received hit letter this morning—so that it has been sixteen days in cominjj, although there are two steamers a week from Wellington to Auck- . '. land. Can this be accidental;— l am, 4c,, Sixoletox Rociii'ort.