Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/13

On the following Thursday a public meeting was held at the court house, at which the mayor, Hon. John Robertson, presided. A number of resolutions were passed, the foremost of which was for the procuring of legislation providing that in the future no wooden building should be erected in the city with a greater height than twenty feet posts and a further height of fifteen feet above the top of the posts. Another resolution was to have the width of the South wharf increased from 25 to 50 feet, and that measures be taken for the widening of Water and Ward streets. It was further resolved that a subscription list be opened for those who had lost their all by the fire, and that the legislature be asked for a money grant for the same object.

A vote of thanks was also passed to Major Slade and the officers and men of the 43rd regiment and of the Royal Artillery for the assistance they had rendered at the fire, and it was resolved that the freedom of the city be conferred on two soldiers of the 43rd, who peculiarly distinguished themselves in saving the brigantine Tom. Cringle while it was on fire at the South wharf.

The legislature was then in session, and no time was lost in having the fire law introduced and passed. The government made a grant of $4,000 in aid of the sufferers, and customs duties to a considerable amount were remitted to merchants who had lost goods on which there was no insurance, or where the loss was very great. Under this provision Robertson & Hatton received over $800, William Hammond over $3,000, John Walker $1,375, and many others smaller amounts, until at last the legislature resolved that no more petitions of this kind would be entertained. A large sum was given to the sufferers by the governor, Sir Archibald Campbell, from his private purse.