WHAT THE FIRE BRIGADE COSTS THE PEOPLE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 198, 16 December 1896, Page 2

WHAT THE FIRE BRIGADE COSTS THE PEOPLE.

| We ao not hold ourselves responsible for the opinion of correspondents.j

[To XIIE EniTOK.] Sin,—Continuing the letter which you were good enough to publish on Monday regarding the above I should like to throw a little more light on the matter. On the 24th of October, 1895, there was a firo in the main street, when lilythc's, Eccles's iV'c., were destroyed. This fire broke out just before eight o'clock oil Sunday night, and, although it may road like fiction, most of the Fire Brigade were at church. They had no time to change their clothes and it is well known that fifteen of them had a good suit of clothes thoroughly destroyed. The steam engine on this occasion was running for ten and a half hours without cessation, and the firemen were on duty for several hours in addition to that. Every possible effort was made to get the insurance companies to recompense the men for their damaged clothing but positively refused to do anything. The Captain of the fire "police" expended £9 for the removal of goods and performing other duties, and when it was found the insurance companies would not refund the money he had paid to save their goods, the Council made a special grant which is now set down as part of the cost of the Fire Brigade. Giving to certain reports that were spread the Council after this fire engaged Mr Niven, of Xapier, to inspect the engine, for which he paid two visits to Hastings. lie found everything all right—the Brigade knew perfectly well he couldn't do otherwise. The cost of this little picnic is put down to the Fire Brigade, but out of the £SO a year the Council give the Fire Brigade they demand and get back .£3 4s for rates, and even this is put down as part of the cost of the Fire Brigade ! After the fire referred to the Council and the public were very much impressed with the services of the Fire Brigade and its value as a body. Mr E. 11. Williams wrote them a very nice letter and enclosed a cheque for .£lO, Mr Gorman gave a cheque for £'s, and one or two others gave smaller amounts, while a very large number promised to give something, a thing they had often done before. Of course it will readily bo understood that in such a fire as that there was a good deal of hose and other gear damaged. The Fire Inspector was asked to report, and did so. On the 10th February, after this report had been discussed and dealt with, the Town Clerk forwarded me a letter of which the following is a copy (and .the original can be seen by anyone who wishes to see it, as we have it framed !) " I am directed by tiie Hastings Borough Council to inform you that the articles recommended by the Fire Inspector will be procured as soon as possible." This is only ten months ago, so that it is not very long since they had a report from the Inspector. It is the cost of these goods, ordered by the Council themselves and which are part of the brigade's assets, that some people are now making a fuss about, and say that the fire brigade costs so much a year. The Town Clerk wound up his letter as follows :—" I am also directed to convey to your Brigade the thanks of the Council for the manner in which they turned out, and the magnificent so nice rendered by them at the late fires."VTliat is what they said in February last. If certain members of the Council would try to remember what they do from one meeting to another, they would not act in such a contradictory maimer as they do at present. I may have a little more to say later on. Thanking you for placing space at my disposal to give a plain, unvarnished tale,—l am, kc., A. A. CJ EOKtJE.