FIRE PROTECTION

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 9

FIRE PROTECTION

Position at Island Bay CONSIDERATION BY BOARD At the monthly meeting of the Wellington Fire Board yesterday the following letter was received from the Island Bay Municipal Electors’ Association ;— “Your board has on several occasions during the past few years been approat’fied by this association with a view to the more adequate protection of Island Bay property from fire risk. The replies given by your board have all been in the nature of stressing protection already provided by the Constable Street Station. During a recent lengthy discussion by the executive of the association a consensus of opinion expressed was that Island Bay had as much need of a local station as had other suburbs already provided with stations; and that if Miramar with its outlying districts of Seatouu and Karaka Bay warranted protection nearer than Constable Street the same should hold good with Island Bay and its outlying districts of Happy Valley and Haughton Bay. “It is hoped that sympathetic consideration will be given to this. oft-repeated representation and that it will be remembered that Island Bay contains such institutions as the Home of Compassion, a residential Convent School, a children’s orphanage, and a Salvation Army Home for elderly ladies. I have also to point out that iit recent years Happy Valley has had at least six total losses by fire, while the ‘.Blue Flatten’ hoarding-house at Island' Bay was. during the summer, completely burned out.” Superintendent’s Report.

When asked his opinion the superintendent, Mr. C. A. Woolley, said the “Blue Flatten” building was iu a state" of collapse when it was reached by the brigade. When the brigade last made a test run from the Constable Street station to Island Bay it took 5-i minutes, which was quite a long run. It was so long that consideration would have to be given to the establishment of a residential station at Island Bay at some time. i “What is the run from Northland to Karori?” asked Mr. S. -S Dean. “A little over three minutes,” said the Superintendent, “and about 7J minutes from Wellington On a recent test an engine travelled from the Tliorndon Station to Wadestown and had two leads in play in 64 minutes.” Mr. Woolley pointed out that Thorndon was an important city supporting station, which suffered in its effectiveness when the were engaged at Highland Park and Wadestown, but the new units would make for faster travelling. “We can’t build any new stations now,” said Mr. Dean. “At the moment we’ve got our hands full with the Central Station.” Mr. W. H. Bennett said when the Constable Street station was built it was considered ideal —with a downhill run in every direction to make it easy for the engines. When it was erected by the City Council there was no intention of erecting a lot of residential stations all over the city. “You must remember,” said tne chairman, Mr. N. Nelson, “that when the Constable Street station was built, Wellington had not grown to the.extent it has in inter years.” Mr. M. Marks recalled that for m.any years the outer suburbs depended for defence against fires on hand-reels and auxiliary volunteer firemen —'provision absolutely impossible in these times. “If the superintendent says it takes GJ minutes to travel from the Constable Street station to the farthest boundary of Island Bay it Isj too long,” said Mr. Marks. “It is no good saying we cannot afford another station—we’ve got to afford it. If it is obvious, as the superintendent says, that the Adelaide Road site is of no use steps should be taken to sell it.” On the motion of Mr. Dean it was decided that the Superintendent report on the question of the adequate fire protection of the Island Bay district > and that steps be taken to dispose of the Adelaide Road site.