THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 291, 7 April 1897, Page 4

THE FIRE BRIGADE.

[To The Editor.] Sir, —In reply to Mr C. Brauch's statement re the manual engine, what he states is perfectly true in reference to the manual engine being of no use r before the Fire Inspector sent in his report to the Borough [Council. It is also true that he paid me privately for the work that I did to it, which amounted to 30s. He does not explain, however, why the engine was not in working order when sent from Mr 1 Jones' shop. The fact is the men could ■ not work the pumps. It would take a dozen men to lift the levers and as ' many more to lift the water five feet. For this the Borough Council had to pay £5. How the Inspector could send in his report that the plant was in a thorough working order is a mystery to me. I was asked by the Captain of the Brigade if I could make it work right as he was ashamed to see it in the shed in that condition, and he was afraid that a fire might break out somewhere where it would be required. I explained to him what I thought was the cause and that I would make it right. I can assure the ratepayers that the manual engine is as good to-day as the day it arrived here —that is as far as the pumping parts are concerned. While on the subject of the manual engine and its workings, may I be allowed to give a few suggestions. I quite agree with what his Worship the Mayor proposed in reference to a manual brigade, Mr C. Brauche's remarks that these men be paid for the working. If my memory serves me right it was passed in the Borough Council some four or five years ago that men employed working the manual be paid 2s 6d per hour. I think if this was carried out we should find plenty of men who would work it. But the reason why we cannot get them is because men have been misled—they have been promised to be paid and after the fire was over their services have not been recognised. I would suggest that the casual men receive a ticket from the inspector or captain for their services, which should be presented to the Town Clerk or overseer the next day for payment for the hours worked. I think that if a manual brigade was formed it would put a spirit of enthusiasm in the men | as to whom should be first on the job, and many hundreds of pounds might be saved by this measure. /if water supply for manual, if the Council could see their way clear they could select various parts of the township where there are a number of wells in close proximity to each other and allow the waste water from these to run into a concrete tank, which could be used by being connected to the main drain as flushing tanks for the main drains or the overflow to run into the drain for the use of the steamer when required. By so doing I think the ratepayers would be better satisfied, knowing their properties were getting protected as well as the larger business places iu town. S am, Ac., THO*. Kinoswkij-, Hon. Life Member 11.V.F.8. OHHiCH MUSIC. [To Tim F.ihtom." Bm, two fmuils nu<t afur church, whin one asked the other, " What sort ul i munic that we bad to night ■*" j •• Gregorian," vu the reply. " Wbat . 1 do you call Gregorian?" "That is |

the music David played before Saul." " Well, if it was anything like that I aui not surprised that Saul wanted to throw his javelin at him." The above storv was forcibly brought to my mind by a rehearsal (!) in one of our local churches last night, when a heavy choir wrestled with the cantata, " The Crucifixion." The. music is not Gregorian, but the feelings of Saul might be fully understood after last night's performance, some of the congregation looking as if they would like to slay a few of the vocalists. On making enquiries I learn that many of the singers have only been conversant with the music for fifteen months, so that it can hardly be expected that they could know it in so short a time. Instead of the regular evening service in Lent the choir is allgwed to run loose and inflict rehearsals until the performance on Easter Sunday. Poor congregation ; happy singers ! I have heard church choirs in various parts of the colonies; but I never had the misfortune to be compelled to listen to such discord as that of last night. The tenor soloist was certainly presevering, although his enunciation was by no means perfect. Baritone, however, was not a success, and it was quite pitiable to hear him floundering through Dr Stainer's beautiful music. His attack was at all times weak, and his constant attempts to reach top 0, two or three notes above what was asked from him, were quite laughable. The duets had a kind of a go-as-you-please about them, while some of the chorus were not particular if they joined in a bar or two late, as by fast travelling they generally managed to be in at the death. The whole effect was ludicrous in the extreme. I was very sorry for the conductor, who is a gentleman of musical culture ; but he appeared to have but little control over the constant bolting of some of the singers. This carelessness on the part of certain members of the choir will certainly send many of the congregation elsewhere when rehearsals (!) are again announced. In my humble opinion it is an insult to a congregation to ask them to listen to music given in the manner in which the Crucifixion was performed last evening.—l am, &c., B Sharp. Hastings, April 5, 1897.

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