City Fire Brigade.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7178, 1 June 1891, Page 3

City Fire Brigade.

TO THH EDITOR. Sir, — In your issue of May 29 appeared , a letter from " Eye Witness," under the ■ above heading, in which he says the horse* [ of the Chester street chemical engine weie L driven with reckless speed, and that they j are more like mad horses than anything, else. Now, Sir, if our engines are to go at a walking pace, and the fire is at any distance, what will be the result ? Why, the engines will be useless when they arrive, and much more valuable property will be destroyed. If " Eye Witnesß " had a house of any value at, say, fifteen minutes' racing speed from the station,, and the engines took thirty minutes to reach it, what would he say P My idea i» > that he would wish the horses had been • driven faster and so Bayed him from con- > Biderable loss. If "Eye Witnesß" can find any account of an accident from the recklers driving (as he calk it) of onr chemical engine, which is always ringing a warning bell, I shall be glad to hear of it. I may state that none but the beet ' and strongest horaeß are kept for such purposes, and we have cause to be grateful to our firemen for the smartness with, which they turn out. Hoping our Brigade > will not be run down by what " Eye Witness " calls mad horses and reckless driving ' -^.1 am, &c, COMMON SENSE. > TO THB BDITOB. : Sib,— Referring to a letter, signed "Eye- . Witness," in your issue of Friday last, on ( the above subject, it would have been much better had your correspondent made some 1 inquiries about the horses before rushing ' into print. However, for his edification, the benefit of the public and in justice to L the driver of the chemical engine (James Moore), also to show that no bad resultshave occurred through their having an occasional gallop, I would say that Tommy, only recently taken oat of the chemical, is twenty-two years old, hasbeen fourteen years at engine work (driven by Moore ten years), and i& now doing ordinary road work in the city. His old mate " Mick " has been seven yeara in the engine (always driven by Moore). " Bruce," the present mate of " Mick," is comparatively new to the work. They are well cared for, never " sick or sorry," do the ordinary city work, and are always willing (too willing at times when the fire bell rings) to romp away with the engine aa soon as it is possible to hitch them up, nowhip being neceseary. On the occasion of another turn-out, perhaps "Eye Witness '* will visit Chester street station, on the> return, and satisfy himself that no harm has been done. — I am, &c, T.T. fihrintnhnrch. .Tnno 1.