FIRE BRIGADES.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1895, 1 April 1875, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES.

To the Editor of the Colonist,

Sib,—The late frequent occurrence f fires in Nelson has, it appears, roused our newspaper correspondents from their usual' apktby. I have had opportunities of seeing the. Fire Brigades of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobarton, at different times turn out to compete with their stern enemy Fire, and this I must say, that the Fire Brigades of Nelson, though smaller in numbers, and possessing leas appliances, will compare favorably with the best of them. But what I wish to remark is this: that it matters not how smart men are, or How willing, if in moments of danger their captains or commanders lose their tempers, and consequently their • presence of mind, their best efforts will be marred. This was made very patent to me at the late fire in Bridgestreet. But after having seen the way in which the captain himself worked, I cannot venture to pass any strictures on his conduct in his hasty moments. In large towns watchtowers are built, and men, day and night, watch for fire; and by displaying flags of different colors, point out the particular part of the town the fire is in. Now why not adopt the simpler plan used in other places, namely,-that of denoting, by rings ot the bell,1 the quarter of the town in which is the fire. After the alarm has been rung, say, —one clang for the north, two for the south, and so on,—Of course the town would have to be divided into north, south, east, and.west. Cards with the explanation of these clangs might be supplied gratis to each householder. Had this plan been in work on Good Friday, your correspondent would not have started over into the Wood for the Port fire. A gain , regarding giving orders at a fire, a properly constituted Fire Brigade has its Captain and Lieutenant, and from these and none others will they take orders. The New York Fire Brigade is ordered through a speaking-trumpet, thus preventing mistakes through ordinary communication.

lo conclude, to be a success as a fireman in JMelson,l should imagine it would almost be necessary to partake largely of the qualities of a salamander, -for if those brass helmets do not attract the heat, and by their weight make the head ache, why I am greatly mistaken. . -

Trusting that these remarks will be taken in the same spirit in which they are written,

il am, &c,

Eambleb,