CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2525, 5 February 1869, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

FIRES. ' TO THE EDITOR OP THE LTTTELTON TIMEB. Sib,—The subject of the prevention and extinguishing of fires, and the report of the Public Works Committee, showing how very little is proposed to be done in the city during the year 1869 respecting a better water supply for the above purpose, have induced me to beg space in your columns for a few remarks upon the subject, Captain Wilson, in his report to the City Council, draws the attention of the public to the necessity of a reservoir for water, however small, being attached to every artesian well, as a means for extinguishing fires. Captain Wilson is, in a measure, right. Reservoirs are wanted for such purposes, but not in the way Captain Wilson suggests; nor is it a question of providing them for the public alone to consider, 'but for the City Council also. The following suggestions may not be unworthy their notice, Small reservoirs, upon Captain Wilson's plan, would be incurring heavy expenses for a very limited service, for the following among other reasons. No fire-engine could work with anything but an injurious effect from such means, as, allowing the hand-en-gine to throw 30 gallons of water per minute when properly worked, and the artesian supply to be, say, 8 gallons per minute on an average, the effect would be that the engine would draw two-thirds air through the suction pipe, which would impede the little water in the delivery hose, and tend to aggravate, instead of subdue, the flames that it might be brought to bear upon. But the following plan would, I think, be of good service as a means for extinguishing fires, in the less crowded parts of the city particularly. In the first place, every person sinking a well for private use should have the taps to screw off and on the pipes, instead of being fixed, so that a full supply of water could be obtained on an emergency. Such being the case, the City Council should place at distances of, say, 800 feet from each other, und nearest to the greatest risk, one or two iron tanks, let in the ground. If two, let the water communicate between them. That would give a supply of 800 gallons of water to start with, and if the Council would place a supply-pipe to the tank, and lead it along underground in the road, the public in the vicinity of each tank could, with little expense, make their wells run into the large pipe. vSuppose four of these wells, with the taps screwed off them, were led into the tank, a supply of, say, 40 gallons of water would be obtained per k minute,which would be sufficient for the effective working of one engine, Such engine, being able to work well with 400 or 500 feet of delivery hose, and the Are occurring between two of theso-placed tanks, and the City Council supplying the town with another hand engine, one might be worked from each reservoir. In this case we should have the use of both engines upon the same fire, and this would be the means of saving time, trouble, and confusion in depending upon the steam fire engine, which, I believe, is only useful when a fire occurs within a reasonable distance of the river or some large supply of water. In the case of a bad supply of water the steam fire engine would be useless, owing to loss of time and other confusion. Time Baved at the commencement of a fire is of the greatest importance. - - -

I believe if the above-mentioned plan were carried out, it would be of great service in preventing and extinguishing fires in the city. A very great deal might be said respecting the present organization and efficiency of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, and I (think the time has arrived for the ratepayers to expect something in return for the money paid for rales and for the heavy premiums paid on insurance. But the latter part of my letter being a large subject, I hope, if jou will allow me space, shortly to offer a few remarks upon it. I trust that some good may result from these remarks, Your obedient servant, AN BX-FIHEMAN.