ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE:.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18, 5 December 1861, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE:.

To the Editor of the Daily Times.

Sir. —Your love of justice to therein the humbler Avalks of life, who ' distinguished themselves at the late fire, induces me to ask how it is, that when thanks and praises are justly showered upon those who exerted themselves in the removal of property, no mention whatever is made of the few, who in the early part of the disaster, manned and worked the fire engine, with nothing but buckets of water for their refreshment. Three, times the writer solicited help : to policemen twice, on the third occasion at two females, one an old lady, the other a young one, who showed their zeal by wading to the knees in the sea, to supply water by buckets. The elder lady gave her name as Mrs. Buchanan, the younger, with a disinterestedness of the highest caste, replied, " I did not come to be known, I came to be useful.'' An appeal to these ladies brought assistance from the men, next came the soldiers and ale, then, plenty of help. The men worked until completely exhausted : two of the police specially distinguished themselves, and one of the people at the barracks, by remaining in the water for such a length of time, and who have hitherto been passed by without notice or thanks

• In a town .solely built of wood, and without an organised fire brigade, I think that strangers— men from the Diggings, men going there, some from Sydney and Melbourne, others v iriously located in the town and neighbourhood of Dunedin, all seemingly strangers to each other, to be moved by one manly impulse to save iife and property, deserves at least the thanks of those who- can to-day with comfort say, my house was saved. I am, &c,

A Lover of Justice

fWe mentioned the names of those whose exertions came under our personal observation. Necessarily many who worked hard escaped our notice, "Whilst the names of others whose exertions deserved chronicling were not known to us. Ed.]

To the Editor of the Otago Dailt Times. Sir, —In yesterday's paper it appears that I said, I have beun at ten fires in one night, in '' California I " You certainly must have misunderstood me. What I did say was, that on more than one occasion I have been called five times, and, out of that, perhaps three or four may. have been actual fires, and the rest alarms. I beg you will correct this " slight" mistake.

I am, &c

B-. Bullen.