THE FIRE BRIGADES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 127, 31 May 1935, Page 11

THE FIRE BRIGADES

MALICIOUS ALARMS IN

SUBURBS

The monthly meeting of the Wellington Fire Board • was held' today, the chairman, Mr. N. W. Nelson, presiding.

A letter from the Island. Bay Electors' Association, asking for further fire-fighting facilities in the district was discussed, and .the board decided to reply that the time was inopportune, and that no steps could be taken until the erection of the new Central Fire Station had been completed.

Reference was made to the prevalence of malicious fire alarms in some suburban districts. The number of malicious alarms during the past month was 23, as compared with only six for the corresponding month last year. False alarms stood at 25 against 10 for April last year, and the total "number of fires was- 36, as compared with 32 for April, 1934.

"Considerable progress has now been made towards the provision, of a new central .brigade headquarters in Wellington,", states the annual report. "In October, 1933, approval of a loan authority for raising £25,000 was gazetted for the purchase of the Clyde Quay School site, and in August, 1934, a further loan of £35,000 was approved for the erection of buildings, etc., thereon.. Both loans totalling £60,000 were taken up by the State Fire Office, the rate of interest being 4 per cent., and the whole of the. loans being repayable over a term of twenty years."

An agreement had been reached with the Wellington Education Board for the possession of the whole of the Clyde Quay property by June 30.

"Mr. C. H. Mitchell was appointed architect for the new building," the report continues, "and plans are now well in hand and it is hoped to call for tenders very shortly. The main headquarters building will front Clyde Quay, and on the Roxburgh Street frontage there will be arranged quarters for married members of the staff, and the buildings will be erected to accord with the latest principles of fireand earthquake-resisting construction." The superintendent's report stated that the number of calls attended was 863, an increase of 115 ,on the corresponding period of last year. Actual fires numbered 633 and false alarms 230, of which 122 were malicious. No serious outbreaks of fire were experienced during the year, and the highest losses recorded were at fires in Willis Street and Lambtori Quay, where the damage amounted to about £3000 in each case. No fatalities from fires occurred the year, and only minor injuries, were received.

. Appreciative reference was made by the.superintendent "of the work of the staff and the co-operation of the City Council ■ departments, .the Police De-partment,-and members.and officers, of the Harbour Board.