THE PROPOSED FIRE-BELL SITE.
(to the editor of the lake wakatip mail.) Sir,—ln your report of the proceedings of Inst Borough Council meeting, I observe that a letter had been received from Capt. Taylor, relative to the placing of the fire-l>ell in a more central position, and I was rather surprised that his recommendation was entirely ignored. As captain of the brigade and fire inspector, I would have thought that his views were at le:ist worthy of consideration ; but it seems to have been the very opposite, as, instead of placing the bell as suggested by him, the Council in their wisdom intend doing the very reverse. Amongst the arguments adduced for the retention of the bell on its present site—or rather for removing it some 50 yards further away fiom the populous centre of the town—are that the bell has been in its present position for over 20 years; that most fires occur in that block, and that the proposed site is in the centre of the town. Now, sir, the only argument worth taking notice of is the one last mentioned. Unless yon take that fenced-in ground on the northern terrace—the occupants of which are very unlikely to take heed of any bell— I submit that, as a boundary, it will he exactly on the outside of the town. A bell erected on the proposed site will also 1 e deadened by the hills at the back, the Gorge wind and the buildings in front.
Whilst submitting that the fire-bell is erected for the benefit of the public, it is, in my opinion, imperative that it should first fulfil the requirements of the fire brigade, to whom the public look to protect their property. From what I can learn, all the fiiemen live on the south side of the proposed site, and if our city fathers expect members to be there at the first alarm, I would suggest that they re-consider their decision, and place the bell tower (with loom underneath for hose-ret 1, etc.) where not only the firemen but the inhabitants will all have a chance of hearing it—l am, etc., Ex-Ftreman
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Bibliographic details
Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1580, 11 March 1887, Page 2
Word Count
356THE PROPOSED FIRE-BELL SITE. Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1580, 11 March 1887, Page 2
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