HECTIC NIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 111, 6 November 1937, Page 11

HECTIC NIGHT

FIREMEN KEPT BUSY

THE BLAZING HILLS

The time-honoured cycle of November 5, from the rattling of tins beneath the noses of the public by small children of all ages from an early hour, preparations for bonfires, and parading of effigies, and much ganging up of small cliques to combine resources for more effective celebrations, was carried out this year in a manner -which gave the Wellington Fire Brigade a most harassing time in its closing hours. Sporadic outbreaks of unre-, strainable enthusiasm occurred during, the day, but it was from twilight on- ; wards that fires were caused in practically every suburb and part of the city. Up till 12.10 a.m. 43 actual fires of which a Tecord is available were; attended and subdued without any re-i sultant damage to surrounding pro-i perty, but this is by no means the total | number of actual fires so handled by : the wearied firemen, because a num-i ber of outbreaks seen on the way back] were put out. Probably 60 fires were' put out last night. The entire staff I of the brigade, augmented by its > auxiliary men, who work at other tasks during the day and report for night duty only, was engaged. The assist-, ance of some twenty, motorists, who with friends gave their services and the use of their cars free of charge for benzine, was much appreciated. Nearly all the outbreaks were In gorse or other dry noxious weeds, but there were also outbreaks in packing cases"in a bulk store in Willis Street ' building material at Karori, and pinel needles at Central Park. The inter-' vals between calls show the busy and: anxious time had by the brigade.! Calls to actual fires were received at; 7.|20, 7.40, 7.49, 7.52, 7.54, 8.9, 8.15, 8.18,, 8.19, 8.21, 8.24, 8.26, 8.38, 8.40, 8.41,, 8.46, 8.47, 8.49, 8.55, 9.1, 9.5, 9.8, 9.11,] 9.17, 9.19, 9.35,.9.41, "9.45, 9.51, 9.52 (2), 9.53, 10.10, 10.14, 10.16, 10.21, 10.25, 10.31,1 10.37, 10.40, 10.54, 10.58 p.m., and 12.10 a.m., and this morning at 5.5 a.m. and 7.58 a.m., while the alarm bell was ringing fairly frequently at about 9.30 today.

Bonfires could be seen on many of the higher points round the harbour. Most of the firework-caused blazes were among noxious weeds, .the extent of which is only called attention to on such occasions, though they always form a danger to property in their vicinity. On Guy Fawkes Day "they become a definite menace on account of the number of fires which might well be beyond the efforts •of the firemen to subdue, and it seems as though either the noxious weeds or the indiscriminate selection of waste ground for firework displays should be curtailed. There are so 'few open places in Wellington .that the procedure adopted in some boroughs of confining displays to beaches would be difficult. "Why doesn't the Government stop the sale of fireworks?" asked one who had been a perspiring helper last night. Parents, however, like to see their children enjoying time-hon-oured customs, and if the noxious weeds were cleared off, half the dan-1 gers of the occasion in Wellington i would be removed.

The children certainly got a lot of fun out of it last night, and their .shgrc in the general looseness of money no doubt contributed. to their .successful celebration.

Calls were received today from Ariki Road, Hataitai (9 a.m.), the Kilbirnie Stadium (9.46), Edinburgh Terrace (10.48), and Priscilla Crescent (11.23).