The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1669, 6 May 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1874.

We had neither time to write nor space to insert any comments on the fire in Grahamstown yesterday, btit we are Anxious that the lesson to be learnt from that Sre shall not be lost sight of while public' attention is yet alive to the calamity which a large fire would entail. There is no disguising the fact that a large Are would be almost total ruin to many persons; and considering the risk to which we are all exposed, it behove* •rery one hating the smallest risk in the township to do everything possible to reduce that risk to the minimum; The first requisite to this end is a water supply. Ihe present supply, although inadequate, is 1 undeniably a great blessinp, and has been of incalculable benefit on several occasions. We learn that the fire brigade* are prohibited from using the water at their usual monthly practices. This prohibition should be removed, because without water the brigades' apparatus cannot be kept in working order; and, besides, the fire plugs are liable to get out of order without, freqnent applications of the hydrant, as was '$$ Mm plug at^ the; tfojPrier of Albert ancL Queeiwstreets yesterday morning, fn the matter of #ater «upply t then; we say that the fire brigades should be, aUo^redto use the water as often as their appliances may require it, and often enorigh to keep; tie brigade' m»» in good prance..,., Another point which should r>ot be lost sight of, and which possibly a little agitation might obtain,! is the construction of the water race from the town end, w^ch would; be the means of inincreasing the present water "apply iiif-'^sf^few^ months*! :by picking^ up small »tr,eams on ttje way, and utilising them at once, insteadof beginning the work some miles from town. The water is the paramount consideration in case of fire. If ,the supply be sufficient and the pressure high! we'have the'greatest confidence in the local brigades that they will, use-ihe water ittdiciously;* but these, brigades are-volunteers, and something should be done to encourage them in their work. Their numbers would be increased considerably if persons eligible for the work saw that their efforts Would be appreciated ; and to initiate a new order of things the Borough Council should take V?jlVmatter in hand. Let the. insurance " offices'be asked for assistance ia order to get a powerful engine, a further supply of hosey-nozzles, and other appliances, and offer tho men some inducements for being smart in their duties. Provide them with hooks, ladders and a hose-reel, and give them the use of the town water at least once a month, and we venture to say thati jthe local brigades will soon be able to • comparefin-o-ribiv -with any similar; bodies in the colony.T It was frequently; ,rem«rkc4 yesterday morning that if the; fire: had been in Auckland it would not have been stopped before a block of buildings had been burned down. It is! tat difficult to put out fires without water, * engine* and hose, a* to make bricks without strafr, and it should not be required: of firemen to attempt the work they have; set themselves without every assistance; that prudence., and .forethought, and experience can augge»t. j