The Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1886.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 11415, 2 December 1886, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1886.

How would the gaol buildings on the ■ JRufcland Hill do for an Old Man's Befuge? Ifc appears to us that, thus applied, they would coaje j.n exceedingly handy and serve a good and useful purpose. Upon the removal of the prisoners and the gaol staff to the new gaol beyond Churfcon's Creek, the old stockade and the buildings attached, including the gaoler's residence #nd the apartments of the warders, will revest to the Domain Board. Ho far as the functinug of this bcdy are concerned, the build" ings are useless, ,aud the natural thing to do with them would be to sell them by public auction &ud apply the proceeds to the improvement of the reserve on which they stand That, however, would be a wicked waste of public buildings tha,t it is possible to turn to a much more us:.\-,l account than could be effected by their demolition and sale as old timber. A so< e trouble to the Hospital authorities is the number of men who, from incapacity to work, occupy wards in that institution, although they do not require medical treatment. Thpre are also the men who are boarded out, aud who fire a source of constant anxiety because of ibe freedom to wander about the streets '.f ;he town tnafc is necessarily accorded to out-patients. If the Hospital or Hospital a&<2 Charitable Aid Board could ftiloct an arrangeflaent with the Domain J3oui'<J for the u&e of the gaol buildings, the Hospital could be' relieved of fclie many destitute and incurable patients, the present boarded out pafients could be placed under more effective discipline, and the expense of the of all bo greatly reduced. We do not know that 1 the DoD?ain 33oard (which consists of the members of the Borough Council) oould give ilie tenants we have suggested for them w> permanancyo£ occupation, but they nn.J at any rate allow them to take a •!•■•' retain possession during their pleais ■ita. The suggestion is at auy rate worth considering.

i Captain Cummins, of the local Fire Brigade, has called a meeting of the | commercial public and of all interested for Tuesday afternoon next, to consider the financial position of the brigade. ! The time is opportune. All who were present at the fires on Monday night will readily admit that if a brigade is to be efficient ifc must be properly equipped. They will i.:lso be prepared to acknowledge that it is not in the nature of things to expect men to continue to voluntarily expose themselves to the wear and tear and loss and danger involved in battling with big fires, if at the same time the brigade to which tnoy belong is to be for ever subjected to the constant pressure of financial embarrassment. There has been for years a strong feeling of esprit de corps among the members of the Wanganui brigade ; they have prided themselves upon their efficiency, and have struggled hard to maintain the reputation won in past struggles with the fire fiend, and in contests for supremaoy with other corps. Their ranks have been rigidly exolusive ; not everybody who has applied for admittance has been received into the fold— but only those whose energy, reliability, and powers of j physical endurance have been manifest. Such has been— such is still— the Wanganui Fire Brigade ; but the day of its decay and dissolution is at hand, unless those who are so ready to pat it on the back, and to speak of it approvingly, are equally ready to render it permanent and substantial mouetary assistance. The amounts voted or donated towards the support of a fire brigade should not be looked upon in the light of ordinary subscriptions,!) ut rather as small contributions towards the equipment of a noble staff of unpaid but heroic and unselfish servants of the publio, whose services are voluntarily and ungrudgingly rendered. What tlie publio think of the value of our Wanganui brigade will be best guaged by the attendance at the meeting called for Tuesday afternoon next.