THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2049, 29 August 1868, Page 3

THE FIRE BRIGADE.

(To the Editor of the Otago Daily Time*.)

Sir—T do not think the: letter from the representatives of Fire Insurance Companies deserves the epithet "dictatorial," which Mr Driver used in referring to i'.* I examined it very carefully before signing it, tosee if any offence could be takeyfat any .phrase in it, and so its object' be defeated. Lest, however, any misinterpretation of its purport should ai-ise, Mr Henderson Law and myself waited upon his Worship the Mayor, to present the letter, and to explain that its sole object was to open the door for a renewal of negotiation, by which a peaceful and satisfactory settlement might, we hoped, be arrived at. But I have since been told by a City Councillor that the "meddling" of the Insurance Companies is held ?j himself and a majority of his colleagues to be impertinent. Hence it may be presumed that any letter, in whatever language it might have been couched, would be deemed to be dictatorial. I think I speak the mind of all the gentlemen who signed the letter in question when I say that it would never have been sent, if they had supposed the Council disposed to ignore their right to a voice in the matter. The Insurance Companies Siave contributed a

larger sum to the support of the Brigade than the Corporation has. Besides their ordinary subscriptions, they provided the funds for the purchase of the larger fire engine. The Corporation is certainly responsible to them and to the original subscribers to the support of the Fire Brigade, for the maintenance ®f that body, or a substitute for it, in efficient order. I protest, therefore, against the imputations of using impertinence or of dictatorial language being caston the Insurance Companies: and beg to express the hope that they will be, on further consideration, as publicly withdrawn as they have been publicly made. I feel sure they must have been uttered in misapprehension of the true state of facts.—l am &e,, --J.-S. Webb, Agent for the Northern Insurance Company.