THE FIRE AT NEWTOWN. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 134, 8 June 1883, Page 3

THE FIRE AT NEWTOWN. TO THE EDITOR.

> Sib— With your kind permission I would like to reply to a few remarks made by " Firefly," and also to one or two speakers at the meeting of last night. In the first place, " Firefly " asks why it took the Brigade) nearly three quarters of an hour to reach the scene of fire. In reply, I would ask is not this rather overstretching the mark by half an hour. From the time the Mannors-strret bell pealed the reel was at the fire within a quarter of an hour, together with four of tho members of the Brigade. Tho third question charges us with radoness and roughness. In reply to this, the fact is, our superintendent, in directing the men at the branch to play the water in a certain direction, was taken no heed of; the superintendent thereupon instructed me to take the branch, wh?oh I_ did, without force, at the same time remarking that ho would get the credit for what he had done. The publics must be aware that the Superintendent has more command over his own men than he would have with strangers at a fire. No disgraceful scene ocourred, as "Firefly" would have you understand, while property was burning, but the firemen were doing their duty under their lead and subjected to a volley of abuse from the lookors-on. At last night's meeting a question was asked by Mr. Collier, whether firemen were allowed to walk?— Decidedly not. I would ask, does he expect a man to run from Thorndon like a racehorse the whole way without a spell now and then ? Suroly the man must be without reason. In regard to Mr. Barnard's ohargo against the Superintendent, I am confident it is groundless, and, trust it will be met with its proper desert. I would like to ask Mr. Tetley, with the hose at tho threshold of the door, how it was, with their promptitude, they allowed the house to be so far destroyed ? I might here state that the wholo of the members of the brigade do their very best when called upon to a fire, and no matter what fire we make for, we are subjected to a volley of abuse from some of the ill-feeling public while on our journey, lam, .fee, H. J. White, Member W.M.F.B. North-street.