FIRE BRIGADE.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 10, 3 August 1894, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE.

(to the editor.) Sir,—l noticed in your valued journal of 81st July a letter from Mr W. , H. Brightwell on this subject, stating that it was, in his opinion, " premature to form such a body for this township." He is kind enough to admit that a Fire Brigade "would do good service if occasion should require" ; but instead of hailing with delightrany efforts put forth on the part of a few well-meaning iadividuals (of whose action we cannot Speak too highly), he complains, in a tpelancholy manner, that we are overburdening ourselves with a variety of more or less unnecessary taxes—the mewspaper, for instance (one for you, Mr Editor). As to churches, they would appear, in the writer's opinion, to be luxuries which should not be indulged in at all; in the meantime we must not thns fritter away our dollars. The jetty alone claims our support, Every man in the distrist, who is not a dolt, must be cognisant of the fact that the wbarf question is one which very seriously affects our welfare. Can Mr Brightwell suggest a scheme for raising all the spare shillings and dollars from the public ? It appears to cie that the most eloquent and effective appeal that any enlightened citizen can make on behalf of the jetty is to make a mental note of the state of his . finances, and call without delay on the se'cretary, who will be only too happy to receive such a dividend in aid of this institution. But we cannot stop progress in every other direction, even if we have had the worst # luck with our unfortunate jetty.—l am, Edward C. Raikes. (to the editor.) Sir,—lt is unfortu»ate that your correspondent, Mr Brightwell, did not ' follow out his intention of being present at our late Volunteer Fire Brigade inauguration meeting, and to which all ratepayers and those interested were invited to attend. It is especially regretable seeing that Mr B. has so much to say after it is all over, and the Btigade an accomplished fact by aesire of the rateyayers and others interested; and although Mr B.'s opinions and views would probably have carried little weight with the maeting, still he could have' had his say face to face, and not, as now, through the newspaper- It would have been much more business-like: If Mr B. had read carefully the account of the meeting, he would have 'seen that we were quite well aware of the faqt that our township is still in its iniancy, like the newly-formed Fire Brigade,, but they will grow together, Mir 8., never fear, in spite of

your wharf predictions, which by the way, don't get croakiDg about so soon. We are none the less grateful, remember, to our townsman for his magnimity on tbe part of the Brigade and we note that we have his admission and approval of the good service we should render in the case of fire, and the necessity for such a body, and we will keep it in mind. What a picture Mr B. has drawn us, with his " too many irons in the fire "—what with its wharf, newspaper, churches, buildings generally, rates and taxes! Upon my word, your readers, I am afraid, will be acting after the manner of the earthquake-scared Weliingtonians—clear out—if Mr B. continues acting the goa—prophet, I mean. The one redeeming point, in my opinion, in Mr B.'s letter is his exceedingly great interest in our Wharf, and it must be very gratifying to the people of this township to see one so lately come in our midst take so much interest in the wharf that he wants all else to stand still, and so save our spare dollars—for the wharf. I would like to poiat out Mr 8., although it takes all my patience to do so, that the newly-formed V.F.B. is an acquisition to the township, and one that is not actuated by any selfish motives, as its name implies, and no true citizen will grudge the paltry expense of keeping such a body together if he truly has the interest of the place at heart. Now, for the wharf. As prime mover in the Fire Brigade, and as a shareholder in the wharf Company (upon collapse of structure), as a property owner, manufacturer, employer of labour, and with various other interests in tbis town, together with, I hope, a small amount of the braiu and foresight of your much-gifted that-way correspondent, I think I may fairly say that for one I am quite well aware of all Mr B. has said with regard to the importance of our jetty, all about the key to our magnificent district, and do not need the advice of newcomers like your correspondent to point out what we want: I knew all about that long ago, you bet! So it's to be hoped that something better will emanate from your correspondent's pocket when " the wharfs has to be provided for" than has emanated from his brain when he went into print over these matters, and especially when the Fire Brigade Committee will have the pleasure of waiting upon him.—l am, &c, John Stewart. Opunake, Ist August, 1894.