PREVENTION OF FIRES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21387, 1 February 1935, Page 6

PREVENTION OF FIRES

* PUBLIC MEETING HELD AT HINDS A public meeting convened by Mr C. W. Keeley, to set up an organisation for the fighting and prevention of fires in the Hinds and surrounding districts, was held in the school recently. The meeting was fully representative of the Hinds district, and included residents from the Ealing district. Messrs W. G. Gallagher and H. C. B. Withell (members of the Ashburton County Council) also attended. Mr Keeley was elected chairman, and Mr S. Tie, secretary. The Ashburton County Council is to be requested, as a result of the discussion, to consider a proposal to help farmers in fighting grass fires, a recommendation being that the type of engine should be one which would carry a quantity of water and also a spray pump, and also to consider the advisability of having spark arresters attached to farm tractors. It was agreed to place the matter before the Government with a view to having legislation passed. It was further resolved that the county council should be asked to provide the fire-engine during critical periods to fight all fires. Messrs Keeley. Riekard, Walls, Bagrie, Musson, McDonald, Dellow, Grayburn, Bowes, and Tie were appointed a committee with power to add in the Hinds district. An organising committee will also be formed in the Ealing district, and it will be the endeavour of each committee to work in conjunction with one another. A hope was expressed that farmers in the

locality of fires would promptly advise the postmaster at Hinds, giving the locality of the farm and name of the occupier. Arrangements have been made for the Post Office to advise one telephone subscriber on each line, and the subscriber will be requested immediately to notify the others on the line. It was decided to hold another meeting, the date of which will "J® advertised later. The chairman thanked all present at the meeting for their attendance and the interest they had shown. He expressed gratification at the knowledge that neighbouring districts were giving their utmost support and cooperation in combating the fire menace. • i

A woman of middle age, living in Sydney and formerly working » n the baking trade, lias for three years been suffering from a rare fungus growth, almost as stiff as wooden splinters, growing on her arms below the elbow. Her case, whicb i*. most distressing, is said to be the only one in Australia at present. Itis to be mentioned at the inter* . national surgeons' conference in j : Melbourne in March and also at gathering of world's leading medica • - men in Melbourne in September and, if possible, a cure evolved. A specialist, one of 20 who have e>amined the woman, has diagnoses. the complaint as rust fungus, a j wheat disease, for which inspectors of the agricultural department watch and prevent affected wheat _ , from being sold. The disease va*. - prevalent in the wheat lands o* Russia some years ago, and humins _ contracted it. " y