FIRE BRIGADE COMPETITION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5331, 15 March 1879, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE COMPETITION.

Sir —lt is with some reluctance that I acrain trouble you for a short space m your columns to reply to the letter of Shellback," which appeared in this morning s issue. Whatever may be said as to the abilities oE the writer, he evidently has selected an appropriate signature for his effusion-the "shell" is plainly "visible, but the man that could discover the internal substance would be more clever than he is himself. I am inclined to think that if the Spit Brigade cannot put foith a greater genius to speak in their behalf, they will have some difficulty in forcing their bogus statements upon the public. I have no desiro to trample upon a fallen party, or to strike a man when he is down, but would ,au - ?- <rett to those « Anakites" that they he quiet and take their defeat like men, and desist from kickiog about with the evident intention of " barking the slum* of their -superiors. Humility in a Chrmtian point of view is highly commendable, an.d charity, we are told, cover* th a multitude of sins. I would therefore reco.mmend to the Spit Brigade that they tender a public apology through the columns of both papers, and pay the sum of £10 to the Kaitangata relief fund. By so doing they might raise to thai"- ' level in the public estimation upon wh ich they formerly stood. In conclusion, sir, allow me to congratulate the Napier Fire Brigade on the honors the y have fairly won, and the remarkable g ood sense they have displayed in not notic/ng the eccentric conduct of their oppone. nts.— l am, &c. , ri Hosts Reel. March 14th, 1879.