STORM WATER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 49, 27 February 1935, Page 8

STORM WATER.

COST OF PUMPING

CHARGE BY FIRE BOARD

A decision to charge Queen Street linns £1 an hour for pumping their cellars and basements dry, following heavy rain, was made by t.he Auckland Fiie Board at its meeting this morning.

The superintendent, Mr. W. L. Wilson, reported that Fire Board plant had been used on February lo as follows: — Phillipps and Impcy, Fort Street Lane, 5 men, 2J hours; Waverley Hotel, Queen Street, 5 men, 3\ hours; Dominion Brewery Bond, Fort Street, 5 men, 1 hour. The engine consumed 12 gallons of petrol and l'J gallons of oil. Three days later live men worked for four hours pumping out the hulk Clansman, and the same day live men worked for two and a half hours pumping out the cellars of the Imperial Hotel. The chairman, Mr. J. J. Kingston, mentioned that one business man had suggested: "You are a public institution. This is an act of God. You should clean it up for us." However, Mr. Kingston believed that some charge should be made, although the board did not want to be too hard. It was agreed to charge £1 an hour as a standard.