FIRE BRIGADES.

Evening Star, Issue 14688, 4 October 1911, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADES.

INSPECTOR. HUGO’S REPORT. [From Opr Parlxamkntars Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 4. There is some interesting matter in Inspector Hugo’s annual report mi the fire jrigades uf the Dominion, a report which in many respects covers only the operations of those brigades which are under the Act and controlled by boards. Concerning the —Demonstrations, he says: “While quite recognising and giving every credit to the United Fire Brigades’ Association for the good work they have done in the past and arc doing at present towards increasing the efficiency of the fire service of the Dominion, there is a direction wherein, in my opinion, considerable improvement could be effected, and that is in the method adopted in certain of the competitions held at the biennial demonstrations. A number of these competitions are carried out in a special manner, and with special appliances, and not as they should be, with both work and gear approaching as nearly as it is possible actual service conditions. These demonstrations, which are most enthusiastically looked forward to by the members oMlto various brigades, who go through a long course of hard training and practice, attaining a high degree of efficiency, include some competitions wherein the method adopted is quite at variance with the work as carried out in their brigades in actual practice at fires. There can bo no doubt the more practical the conditions are made the more they will meet with the approval of the officers of the Cro service, and of those competitors who realise that these competitions are ono of the means to the end of turning out efficient firemen, and I would resentfully submit that the executive of the A satiation would do well to rive this matter their serious consideration.” —Fire Losses.— On the occurrence and canoe of fires, he says there is a decrease in the number of actual fires that occurred during the year—viz., 366, as against 373 for the year ended 30th June. 1910. A large reduction has taken place in the number of fires returned as duo to incendiarism, unknown causes, and in unoccupied houses, as follows :—ISO9-10: Incendiarism, 30; unknown causes, 139; in unoccupied houses, 19. 1910-11: Incendiarism, 12: unknown causes, 94; in unoccupied houses, 15. These large decreases are probably in a great measure due to more searching inquiries than has been customary in the past being rnado by the superintendents of the various brigades as to the origin of '.he fires. Although the actual tires number only 12 less than during the previous 12 months, there, has been a very substantial reduction in the amount of the loss sustained of property covered by insurance, with a small increase in the cace of uninsured property; 1909-10. 1910-11. Insured ...£101.574 £75,708 Uninsured ... 26,881 27.989 £128,455 £105.697 —a decrease of £25,866 on insured property and an increase of £l,lOB in the value of uninsured property. The fire districts that have incurred the heaviest losses are Dunedin (£50,987) and Maori llill (£18,747). The insurance lose throughout the Dominion for the year ended 51st December, 1910. was £392,670. being £75,860 less than the previous year, and £53,518 less than the annual average for the preceding six years. —Cost of Brigades.— Of the brigades controlled by boards, Auckland's upkeep last year (including capital expenditure) was £8,174, Christchurch. £6,645, Dunedin £6,500. —The Dunedin Fire District.— In the individual reports the inspector regards the turnouts at tile Otago brigades at his visits as satisfactory, but he recommends better arrangements for a larger proportion of the total strength available for the turnout. He advised the Dunedin Fixe Board early in the year to urge the laying of a main in the "southern portion of Cumberland street, and to induce the Harbor Board to come to a mutual arrangement for better fire protection of their property.