CITY FIRE APPLIANCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 131, 4 June 1901, Page 3

CITY FIRE APPLIANCES.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTION

A large number of citizens assembled at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon in the Harbour Board oflice, in response to the invitation of the Chamber of Commerce, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to secure adequate lire appliances for the city. Mr O. R. Caldwell, president of the Chamber, in opening the proceedings said that the meeting had been called al the request of a large number of business men. who felt that it was time something definite was done in the matter of getting up-to-date fire appliances for tlie city. Mi- Caldwell then asked Mr George Fowlds to address the meeting.

Mr Fowlds said they had met under the shadow of a very great calamity, aud their hearts must go out in sympathy to those who had been bereaved. At the same time it would be a mistake to allow that opportunity to pass, when the public conscience had been awakened, without trying to get something definite done. There was no denying the fact that while the Council had been peacefully sleeping the citizens themselves had been sunk in slumber. (Applause). Mr Fowlds then moved. "That this meeting of citizens deplores the. continued neglect of the City Council to take efficient measures for the protection of life and property from fire, and hereby appoint a deputation to wait upon the Council and urge it lo take action to remove the existing disgrace from the city." Mr Fowlds said first of all they must have the auxiliary supply ready for next summer, lie was told that even now there w*as a danger that tbe supply would not be ready for next summer, owing .to the Council, against the advice of the engineer, having granted certain concessions. After they had provided a water supply il was of little use without adequate pipes to convey it through the city. For instance, in Fort and Commerce streets there were only four inch mains to cope with fires in these large warehouses. Immediate steps should be taken to lay proper sized mains, a steam fire engine should be obtained, and care taken that there was a proper supply-of good hose. He understood that good English made hose had been procured. Another thing urgently needed was that the city should have an effective alarm system. Just imagine there being no firebell in the Fast, Ward. (Applause.) Then, too, was it not awful to think of the firemen pulling that book and ladder carriage? (Applause.) lie understood that satisfactory ladders had been ordered. The question of fire escapes could also be gone into by the Council, as it, now had absolute power in the matter. In connection with lire escapes was included the whole question of inspection of buildings. In one building recently destroyed by fire the walls were 14 inches, although the building regulations stated they should be .".6 inches. At the top of the building, the walls were 0 inches instead of 111. He could tell the Council that if the duties of public bodies wore not attended to it simply meaut the Government would step in. If the Council' within two years did not do the drainage the Government would stej) in, do the work, and charge it to the Council. The apathy of public bodies was just tbe excuse wanted for Government interference, a thing always to be deplored. (Applause.) It wotdd be said at once that all this could not be done without money, and that the rating power in Auokland was limited. The temper and tone of the House was to put Auckland on the same footing as other parts of the colony as regards the power to levy rates.

Mr A. M. Myers said Mr Fowlds should add to his motion that a vigilance committee be appointed to watch the matter. As the Harbour Hoard were getting a lloat lire engine an arrangement might be made with that body whicli would make it useful for extinguishing fires in the vicinity .of the wharf. Then, of course, fire brigade arrangements were behind the times, especially men pulling that hook and ladder carriage. (Applause.) He did not blame the brigade, u.s the men did what they could with the apliunces they had, but it was time an up-to-date service was obtained for the city. (Applause.) Supposing it cost _1000 a year extra he believed it would hardly mean an eighth of a penny increase in, the rates.

Mr P. A. Vaile, in seconding the motion, said the City Council was only a reflex of the people. What they wanted was to get rid of the little Aucklanders who kept the city from progressing.

.Mr Fowlds said the proper time to elect a Vigilant Committee was at the municipal elections. (Applause.)

Mr J. Stichbury thought the Harbour Hoard, insurance companies and Council should contribute towards tbe cost of a lire brigade He contended the city should have a steam fire engine, as 'their water power was not sufficient to reach four storey buildings .(Applause.) Mr D. Goldie said Mr Fowlds had complained that the water supply was not in this summer, and might not be ready for next. As a matter of fact it was owing to the wet this summer that the work could not be pot on with, but he had not the slightest doubt that the auxiliary supply would be ready for next .summer. There was no doubt of the supply oi' water being enough for requirements at Nihotapu and Huia. Tlie four inch pipes in Customs-street were laid by a competent engineer, Mr Errington, and were no doubt equal to the requirements of those times; but Auckland had grown since then, and larger pipes were needed now. Mr Fowlds hinted at forcing the Council to do something in the matter of fire appliances, but as a, matter o_ foct £3500 had been spent by the Council during tlie last two and a half years. As to the maintenance of fire brigades, Mr Goldie pointed out that last year insurance companies in London paid £30,000 towards the cost of brigades, and outside of Tasmania New Zealand was the only Australian colony Avhere the insurance companies did not contribute. When that was the case elsewhere, why should the Council here pay all the cost? This year the Council had spent £2500 for a site and appliances, besides the £800 and £900 for the maintenance of the brigade. They had also sent to England for a fire escape ladder and 3000 feet of first-class hose arrived last week by the Delphic, another evidence that the Council had been attending to the question of fire appliances. As to the question of drainage, Mr Fowlds ought to have known that

the work was being pushed forward with all possible speed. Mr J. 11. Upton said what they wanted was to prevent the possibility of the recurrence of such an awful calamity as that of last week. The Council should provide the requisite appliancea aud then see that those should pay who were entitled to. Whether the insurance companies had to contribute or not did not matter, for that would all be regulated by the rates charged. Mr S. Vaile considered there should bo a prohibition of wooden partitions in brick buildings of more than one storey in heigh Hi also that con i.iuuous •staircases should not be allowed in hotels or boarding-houses, as {hoy were a great danger in case of fire.

Mr Jackson asked could they not afford a, couple of trained horses for the Brigade? He also pointed out that (ho hose reel only 'took five men and a driver, while the rest of the men. had to drag the hook and ladder carriage, arid were not in a state to combat with

the firo when they arrived. They also wanted two or three fire escapes on the different levels of the city. Personally, he contended a . ' _.te would not ruin a growing city ike Auckland. They must get larger rating powers, and then something might be clone. (Applause.)

Mr A. C. Atkin said when a member of the Council he submitted plans for a horse ladder carriage, which were referred to a committee, and he never heard of them again.

Mr J. Kirker said if proper fire appliances were not procured insurance rates would certainly be advanced. As soon as proper appliances were procured, and an ample water supply, rates would be reduced. Insurance companies simply took risks on their merits, and charged accordingly.

Mr A. Kidd regretted the tone of the meeting. Sad as The fatality had been, still he. contended no human aid could have saved that building. Such things occurred occasionally. Even Wellington, with elaborate fire appliances, costing £10,000, bad just had 23 buildings destroyed. Thoy wore told there was no bell in the East Ward, which was quite true, but once there was a lovely bell outside the Northern Club, and no doubt some people in the room knew why that bell was shifted. As to tho calamity, he contended it was the duty of the police and the Licensing Commissioners to have seen that the building had proper fire escapes, and not the City Council. Already designs had been called ior a building to bold a paid staff. In the past tbe Brigade, ill paid, had done its level best. The new station would have accommodation for six horses and 15 men. Then they had a smaller station at the lower end of the town. The telescope, fire escape should arrive in about four weeks, and he thought another should be got, for the high level, and when the horse ladder reel came to hand they would have a fair equipment, that would cost between £..000 to £4000 a year. Tho Council was at the present time doing all it could in the. matter.

Mr P. A. ("heal said ii was the. criminal neglect of the past that was lo he blamed, and not what fhe Council was doing now. j Mr T. T. Masefield challenged them to show that the Council was in any way to blame in connection with the lamentable fire at the Grand Hotel. No water would have put such a fire out. The real blame lay with the. police for not, reporting the inadequacy of the fire escapes. It was only within the last few months the Council had i power to deal with buildings. He heard ex-Mayor Upton blame the Council, but what did he do for the Brigade | during his term of office? As to the Council itself, he considered that until they did away with tbe ward system they would not got the proper stamp of men to represent them in fhe Council. (Applause.) Mr de Montalk contended that on " many buildings, the present fire escapes Were useless, particularly tho vertical ladders. The proper escape was a balcony at each floor with connected stairs. .Mr J. Hall mentioned that on 27th of August he wrote to the Council on behalf" of Messrs. Merry weal her and Co. asking for certain information, to enable that firm to give an expert opinion free of cost as to what appliances were required for a city like Auckland, but so far the information had not been supplied. At the suggestion of tho chairman Mr Myers withdrew his amendment re appointing a Vigilance Committee, and Mr Fowlds' motion was then adopted. ..Mr Fowlds repeated his .warning Jjbout the danger of Government interference, adding: "If it is to be an understood thing that any Councillor can get a job by doing something contrary to the building regulations, it is just* such a thing as that which will cause the Government to step in and attend to building regulations. The appointment of the deputation was left in the bands of the Chamber of Commerce.