The Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1882.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4508, 5 October 1882, Page 2

The Star. TH URSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1882.

It is bdt BBIDOM that a resignation tendered to the City Council can excite regret in tho entire community. A Major may bo popular to a degree, and his retirement from office may yob be accepted with equanimity ; hard-working and enthusiastic Councillors may be idolised in their respective wardt, and yet bo regarded with moet irreverent feelings outside their boundaries. And officers of the Council may pass away unheeded ; for are they not, in their tax-gather-ing capacity, inimical to the rest of mankind? But the citizens, through the City Council, have been called upon to receive, and perforce accept, a resignation of another sort. They are to lose the services of the Superintendent of tho Christchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade. Everybody knows something of those servioes; every bod j has appreciated them, and has therefrom derived a comforting sense of security. Small wondor that his Worship tho Mayor should make somo referonoe to what had boon accomplished by Hupprintondent Harri* ; but nevertheless he did not tell the half. For upwards of 21 yonra Mr Harris has been connected with the Brigade, and for the greater part of that time he ha* been ire guiding spirit, aud has directed his Volunteer band in many a fiery encounter, When Mr Harris look office cs Superintendent, a hand engine formed the Brigade's ■piece de nsistanve. We had, in fuct, a repotition of " the parish squirt " of as English country town ; a.i institution allied to Beadledom ; the glory of h wall boys. Christohuroh grew rapidly : its property inoreased in value at a prodigious rate ; aud the energy of tho Superintendent of t'-e Fire Brigade steadily kopt pane therewith. Nothing has boen done spasmodically. Succcßsivn Councils, have been v ogi?ed on" to the noodod outlay, und in turn Christohurch became possessed I of a Hook und Ladder Company, two powerful steam fire engines, additional water tanks, telophonic communication, a chemical fire engine (tho largest of its kind in existence), ; and— nearly oomploted— an elaborate ayatem jof electrical fire alums. All this has been j brought about mainly by the energy of one ' man ; and if tho city does not poßiess a high pressure water supply,. that is no fault of the Superintendent. These have been tho outward and visible indications of " the right man in the right place." But these things, all-important as they unquestionably are, could not make the Firo Brigado an efficient one> Tbo esprit which has always characterised the Brigade ; the Semper Faratua which has animated them ; the unswerving obedience of the Men ; thoir long line of marked successes in dealing with the more serious conflagration* ;•— then things are doe simply to the relationship ' eziiting between the Superintendent and his officers and men. There has bees the 1 ententt corJu.l- aivays. Kindly feeb'ng on 1 the ono hand, combined with prompt decision and absolute firmness; and, on the other hand, respect, esteem. Bo it has happened that tho Chrietchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade, ha* beon second to nono in promptitude or in heroism. Wo shall mill Superintendent Harris. Chriitchuxch hu leeo many fortwtU bw

quets: the " God-speed I " has been given to many a deparlinp; guest. But the farewell gathering whioh wo assume will ihortly be held, ought to be more comprehensive than any that have preceded it. If the City presented to Mr Harris a cheque to cover the> cost of his Home trip, the City would be> discharging a simple duty.