ALARM OF FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5633, 5 December 1879, Page 5

ALARM OF FIRE.

The facilities afforded for alarming the residents on the occasion of the outbreak of a fire are of so primitive a character, thatth-y are subject to the gravest abuses. Some remedy will have to bo applied, or citizens will come to disregard the summons. About one o'clock this morning, thecity and suburban fire-bells rang as if the whole city were endangered. Immediately, Mr. Superintendent Hughes and his fire brigade started for the scene of the fire, which, from information received, was supposed to be in Freeman's Bay. The Salvage Corps under Captain Butler followed, and the police under Sergeant-Msjor Mason were in prompt attendaooe. The services of neither was required. The fire waß merely amongst some gorse on College Road, near the residence of Mr. Thomas Hall. It appears that three young fellows had been seen passing the place a short time before the fire broke out. They were singing and appeared to be very merry. It is supposed that one of them had either lighted a match and threw it among the furze, or after lighting his pipe or cigar had dropped the match carelessly among the Inflammable rubbish. Mr. Hall was just on the point tf going to bed when ho noticed the reflection of the blaze, and assisted by Mr. Caradyce, the fire was soon extinguished. Some more discrimination should be used in alanninj* the citizens than is now exercised, and it is high time that our civic authorities should provide some more satisfactory means of giving an alarm of lire.