To the Eiiitor of the "Nowrn-Cnisa Datny News."
Sm.—In your issue of date you take severely to task those who have ventured to criticise the handling, by the Brigade, of the fire at Messrs. Hall & Holtz, and you endeavour to maintain that " this fine organisation is above criticism.
disagree with you. Ihave served in the Brigade, Mr. Editor, as also have [you. I believe, as no doubt do you, that the men are as zealous and keen as in our day; from my own experience I think they are a groat deal more so; but that the organisation and appliances are now, for the work demanded, as up to date as the organisation of twenty-five years ago was then, I, for one, very much doubt.
Ithink the Council should appoint a commission to enquire into the whole subject of fire protection in this Settlement, organisation and appliances. At the above-named conflagration the fire float took one hour before it was engaged; the distance it had to go. by water was some 200 to 300 yards, the tide being I read in your paper "Had the fire float arrived earlier it could have done little good, as it burst the hose directly it was started."
Lam, ete., Wrarax D. Lirzex.
13th February.
Our praise was intended for the personnel of the brigade: we pointed out at the time of the recent fire in the Szechuen Road that the appliances at the disposal of the Brigade were inadequate to the needs of modern Shanghai; but the Chief Engineer of the Brigade and the Municipal Council expressed themselves as quite satisfied with the efficiency of the Brigade and the appliances at its disposal.—Ep
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.