THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 10 August 1894, Page 3

THE FIRE BRIGADE.

(to the editor.) Sir, —I notice in your issue of Brd August two letters “ getting at ” Mr Brigbtwell for his remarks about the proposed Fire Brigade. It seems to me that the disagreement with Mr Brigbtwell is due more to jealousy at his starting business in Opunake than to anything else, for I cannot think that the Opunake people seriously believe there is any call for forming a Fire Brigade. To me, the idea appears more laughable than anything else. The idea of a place the size of Opunake—a few scattered houses—going in for a Fire Brigade ! Do the promoters really think that anything the Fire Brigade is likely to do in the way of saving property for the next ten years will repay them for the expense and the time spent in attending meetings, drilling, &c, I am glad to say that we only run one fire per three or four years, and where the one fire does occur I think we will find the Brigade of less use than our fellow townsmen, who are sure to turn out whether there is a Brigade or not. Mr Brightwell is quite right: Opunake has too many irons in the fire—too many by far—always had. Any amount of growling and grumbling and mad schemes, and subscription lists innumerable. But what comes of it all ? What is likely to come of this, the latest ? How will they attend to the things they have in hand ? For instance, county matters. Do they turn up to vote and see that they get a good man in 1 think about one-

•fourth of the proportion vote to what vote at other places, such as Eahotu. The same in Road Board matters. They get a man to stand for the Opunake end and, hew they treat him ? A total of six votes were recorded, about two or three voters. Creditable is it not ? Again, the Harbour Board. At the last election the votes recorded were the least, by far, in proportion to the population, that were recorded at anyplace throughout the harbour district. Town Board matters are attended to in much the same way, aud seldom can a quorum be got together at any meetings of shareholders or anything else. School matters are not any better managed. Here they have Commissioners appointed, because parents are too lazy or indifferent to take the tx-ouble to turn up ; and so with everything else so far as Opunake itself is concerned. Anything that is a success, or likely to be a success, such as the jetty, has to rely mostly on outside support. Yes, Opunake has plenty of irons in the fire, and plenty of talk, and certainly is the best place for subscriptions I ever knew—churches, band, Fire Biigadc, tree planting, and so on, and the results are charming. Shortly the only thing we will lack arc fires.—l am, Ac.,

Festina Lente.

*. (to the editor.) Sir, — I see by your i-:sue of the 3ul instnnt that two of our citizens are making an attack on Mr W. H. Brightwell in consequence of his letter relating to the Fire Brigade, the main burden of which, however, seemed to have reference to wharf subscriptions. Having been a resident in this progressive township for eleven years, I am able to appreciate any efforts put forth by new blood ; the more so when they are in the direction of being backed up by a few pounds towards the object at present under discussion. I desire then to assist Mr Brightwell to propound the scheme asked for by Mr Eaikes. My scheme is this :—Let a public meeting be called wiihout further delay ; appoint a number of canvassers to collect all the “ spare dollars ” —smaller coins would of course be accepted : then when such collection has been effected, purchase stationery, stamps, &c., and allow the very obliging secretary to communicate with every individual absentee property owner, pointing out to them the heavy loss which this town has sustained by the collapse of of the jetty. I feel sure that they would part handsomely, and the Government would, there is every reason to suppose, help those who help themselves, just as they have done in the past. The object the absentees would have in view would naturally be not to allow the town to drift from bad to worse commercially, for in such case they would not be able to demand the fancy prices which they are now doing for their town sections. As for churches, we wall allow them to exist, Mr Brightwell, as* they will do no harm, even if their adherents are culpably remiss in their attendance.— I am, &c., George Washington.