THE MADRAS STREET FIRE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11243, 8 April 1902, Page 3

THE MADRAS STREET FIRE.

REPORT OF THE FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE.

The following report came before the Council last night:—"The Committee has inquired into the circumstances connected with this fire, when the Gymnasium and the Girton College were destroyed, and finds—(l) that owing to the alarm not recording the fire got a good hold before an alarm reached the station; (2) That a mistake was made in not setting the engines in at the tank in Manchester street." Cr. Gray moved the adoption of the report. ; Cr. Morris thought the report was somewhat unsatisfactory in that no details were given. Cr. Gray said the fact of the fire alarm not recording was due to the wires becoming mixed up. Personally, he thought they ought to have a new tire alarm system, and this should be under the control of the Inspector of the Fire Brigade, ac was the [ case in Dunedin. They wanted an up-to-date system, as their present one was quite out of' date, and was a very expensive one. Cr. Simpson asked whether it was true that the driver of one of the fire enginet; wished to stop at the Manchester street tank, but was overruled by the foreman. Cr. Gray: Yes. that is so. The foreman is in charge of the engine. Cγ. Payling said that if the alarm system now "in u:;e was not in good order it was time the chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee brought down a new scheme. Cr. Gray explained that the fact of the alarm not working well was due to, causes not within their contTol. A Jfiie leport was adopted. W M . r