Original Correspondence.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 788, 27 June 1864, Page 5

Original Correspondence.

THE LATE FIRE. (To the Editor of the Daily Times.) Sir,—lt only wanted a little wind from the southward to have destroyed as much property by fire in George-street on Friday night as would represent the capital of a Water Works Company for Dunedin on a gigantic scale, with that of a'Gas Company thrown in; yetyouwiil find that mudi more valuable property has still to be consumed before strenuous efforts are f made to provide the town with a plentiful supply of water for sanatory or fire-extinguishing purposes. In connection with the subject of fire, may I ask whether the local authorities have ever considered the necessity which exists tor adopting means for thn preservation of life, in the event of fires taking place in large buildings, where egress from the up:-er storifß is cutoff? I am Jed to this inquiry while reflecting1 on the helpless ppsition of the unfortunate inmates of the Dunedin Hospital, and the possibility that at any moment last night, that buildiDg mighfc have been ignited by the large flake* of burning material which were wildly flying about in its vicinity. As you are aware. Sir, the Hospital is surrounded by, and almost in contiguity with, buildings of an inflammable charact'-r, and, if a fire nccurred in any of those buildings, and a breeze blowing from the north-east, the whole b-ock: would inevitably be consumed. WhaTi, then, are the means at hand for saving the inmates of the Hospital in th 3 eve'it of that building being on fire, and. if saved from death by that destructive element, what other provision; are made for protecting them from the consequences of exposure to inclement weather]

I would also ask—lias it ever occurred to those • whose <luty it is to look after such matters, that the present site of the Dunedin Hospital, apart from the danger of fire already alluded to, is most unsuitable for the purposes of such an institution. Amongst the most essential requirements for an hospital are these, namely—that it should be situated on an elevation, where its inmates could always inhale pure air, and w'>ere pe'feet drainage could he obtain el; and further, that ir should- be completely isolated from other buildings. With reference to the present site, it is on all hands acknowledged to be the very hotbed of miasma; that the drainage, from natural cause?, will always be imperfect.; that the reclaimed land will always accumulate dampness, and be very expensive to build usm in coussquecce of the extensive basement story required ; and that, instead of being isolated and quiet, it is situated in the mid-^t of a densely populated and noisy part of the town, incurring treble ths expense to the country of au. institution, built ia a more healthful part of the town.

Seeing that Y/e have no lack of eligible sitPS aboutßunedin, why is 'he erection of such a building ri' t proceeded with 1 The present site is better adapted for business purposes and would scli to advantage, and there are owners of suitable Jan lin the centre of the town, who wou'd willingly, and for less thau the value of the land in George street, sell to the Government, as muoh land as they would require, and take payment of the price in debenture bonds, which the Go■vernment find so difficult to dispose of. Indeed I have no hesitation in saying that all our public works could be completed without delay, atid the cost liquidatf d by the transference to the contractors of these debentures at a small premium. I am. &c, HuMANITATIS GATJSA. • Dtraedin, 25th June, 1864.