Correspondence.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 191, 16 August 1867, Page 2

Correspondence.

SAFETY FROM FIRE. To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — The appalling nature of yesterday's conflagration, resulting in so great destruction of valuable property, besides endangering human life, is fraught with many hints, which, if put into execution, would be the means of curtailing to a great extent the tremendous sacrifice caused by the devouring element. Considering the frequency of fires now-a-days and the reluctance of insurance companies to increase their risks even at a high premium, it behoves the Board of Works, or the Provincial Council (if the former is not empowered) to enforce in the heart of the city such regulations in the construction and material of houses as will iasome measure alky the ravages of the fire-king. In the more populoua provincial cities houses must now be erected either of stone or 1 rick, while in England architects' plans have to be submitted to a public surveyor through the Board of Health of the district. The time has now arrived wlieu every house erected in this city should have brick walls and slate roofs. If a house take fire, the danger to the adjoining dwellings is greater where the roofs are made of shingles on account of the falling cinders.

We cannot too highly eulogise the conduct of our efficient Fire Brigade, and I would suggest that one or more horses should be placed at the disposal of that body to be kept harnessed all night ready for action. The saviug of ten raiuutes in getting the engine on the spot would protect property in a fire of yesterday's magnitude to au extent that would pay for the outlay during a long lifetime. So rapidly does fire take hold of wooden buildings that no means cao be over-esti-mated which places the machinery of the Brigade at once on the scene of action. It is high time the fire bell should be accessible to every one ; it should have communication with the street and not be kept with the hammer up. Yours, etc., H. C. August loth, 1867. "A VOICE." To the Editor op the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — In your issue of yesterday appeared a letter signed 'A Voice,' which contained "" the following: — "I would ask, through the medium of your journal, if the Doctor has at any time inspected the unsound meat supplied to the hospital and the branch Taranaki Buildings." Now, sir, having received no single complaint about the soundness of the meat supplied, and io order that I might justify myself when thus publicly accused, I this morning waited upou the Hospital Attendant, and asked if he had any complaints to make respecting the soundness of the meat supplied by me, and I was assured that he had none. So far in reply to 'A Voice.' I would ask, sir, if this ' Voice' is the same as that which asked in my shop why I did not supply him and his fellow-patients with " rumpsteak and sausages ?" Yours, etc., J. Peatt. August 16, 1867. THE MUTTON QUESTION. To THE EDITOK OF THE NELSON EVENING MAIL. Sir — It is not very easy to give a direct answer to a roundabout question, but if I understand your correspondent 'A Voice,' aright, he states that the meat supplied to the hospital is not according to contract, and asks me whether I am aware of the circumstance. As a direct answer to his question, I may state that I make a practice of asking the more delicate patients in the hospita whethe rations are of a satisfactory quality, and that but few complaints have been made to me iv reply. But at the same time the hospital is no exception to the rule that there is a great deal of bad meat used in Nelson. Butchers prefer buying scabby over-driven sheep from the Wairau for 4d a pound, and retailing at Bd, to paying 6d to Mr Jenkins, or Mr Pierson, or the farmers about the towu, for wholesome meat, to be retailed at the same price; and the bakers are not a bit better. I hope the Provincial Council at its adjourned session will spai*e a day or two from the great questions of political economy to the more homely but not less useful one of wholesome bread and meat. During the five years that I have been Surgeon to the Provincial Government I have felt that, owing to the absence of any managing committee, an undue responsibility was thrown on the medical attendant, and if your correspondent will refer to the report on the hospital which I sent iv to the Provincial Government on the Ist June last, he will see that I call attention to the fact that there is no committee to supervise "the fulfilment of the contracts," and will, I am sure, give me credit for sincerely desiring that a complete change should be made in this very unsatisfactory state of things, when I mention that I at the same time resigued my office as Provincial Surgeon in order-that, so far as I

am concerned, no existing claims should stand in the way of any arrangements which the committee, of wh'eh I urged the appointment, might think proper to make. I might add that, though I have answered 'A Voice's' question, as it was directly addressed to me, yet I might very well have declined to do so on the grounds, Ist, that it is not usual for anyone in an official position to answer unauthenticated questions; and 2nd," that I only continue to act as physician to the hospital until the uew committee has had time to appoint its own officers. I have no doubt that when the new arrangements are matured by the committee (who must of course have time to inquire how these things are done in other places) there will be no future ground for complaint. I am, etc., S. A. Cdsack, Late Surgeon to Nelson Hospital. August 15, 1867. .