FIRE BRIGADE PRACTICE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1908, 13 February 1875, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE PRACTICE.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir, —As a ratepayer, and also as au onlooker last night at the practice of theFire Brigade, I wish through your columns to call the attention of the City Council to the entire want of management and order in the Fire Brigade, the maintenance, of which, I am told., will -cost the ratepayers over; £§00. in pfl|y^ar^ J, I will mention but two occasions out of the many that I saw last night. From the time tlie first length of hose broke at the engine until another was fixed and the water again playiDg, nine and a half minutes elapsed. When, Mr Young called for a key to fi or undo "some part of the hose in Albert s'reet, seven different brigade men left the engine;and! other appliances and'wont to him. I have no hesitation in saying that with such management aa shown last nighty if the? town caught fire, the brigades are 'perfectly useless•: either the men have not learned to obey or the officers .are not fit to, commancll. _, - r , If a practice cannot be got through, how would a real fire act when in the midst of great excitement,, $00l judgment, decisive action, and implicit obedience are required. I would also suggest that the Council cause the Shortland Brigade hy themselves to practice with the engine and appliances attached to Grahamstown, and that after they are perfect, both Brigades should practice conjointly, one officer of one Brigade taking one engine, another officer of another Brigade the hose reel and hydrants; and a third the other engine in some other part of the township; so that if two fires occurred at one time, the: Brigades men might know their duty, which they in my opinion do not now.^