THE BIG EXHIBITION

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 2

THE BIG EXHIBITION

PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARD PROVIDED __Tlio extensive area revered by the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition atm uiu vamo ol the exhibits which they will contain when the Exhibition is opened make it imperative that adequate protection against damage by Jiro is provided, and that up-to-date meLJions or dealing quickly wilh an outbreak are available in the ground,s of the Exhibition. The directors, have been in close touch with Superintendent Napier, ol the fire brigade, with the result that a complete system of dealing with outbreaks has been established. According to Superintendent Napier, the Exhibition site is part of an area which enjoys the best water pressure in the city. A Gin main comes down from Maori Hill to supply the Ravcnsbourne district, and it is possible to obtain a pressure of 1801 b to the square inch.

A fire station, where four men will he on duty day and night, will be cstablidieiL'in the main entrance buildings. It will house a Jiro engine, will contain two cubicles for the men, and a comfortable sitting room. The station is ideally situated, as broad roads will lead irom the entrance to every part of the Exhibition. The arrangements provide for mains around the grounds, a complete system of alarm boxes, and instant means of calling up the central fire station in the city. Which motor engine from the central station will bo allotted to the Exhibition station cannot be decided until the roads are more advanced, but the engine room will be largo enough to house a machine with a lander winch will enable the firemen to reach the high roofs of the. Exhibition buildings.

FI3ES IH EXHIBITIONS

The following list of fires' that have taken place in connection with exhibitions in various parts of tiic world .-mould be oi interest;— 1882.—Building? of old Sydney Exhibition burnt, £250,000. 1884.—Parramatta, New South Wales. Small liic. 1898. —Chicago World Fair. Twenty lives lost. Chicago World Fair, after the Exhbition bad closed, had several iires. Cold storage building burnt. 1894.—Chicago World Fair, manufacturers’ building, with 20,000 cases exhibits, Peristyle and Casino. Loss I.OOOjOOOcIoI. 1894.—Chicago^Colonnade burnt, January. On July 5 the six principal buildings that had housed the Exhibition n or-; burned down. Buildings cost I £980.000, and bad been sold lor removal in Slay for £16,000. In three hours j die wnolc of the buildings was burnt i out. • 1897. —Paris Charity Bazaar, May. Over 100 lives lost j JfW.—Loipsic Exhibition, thirtyseven fires. Damage in every case I small. 1897.—Berlin Exhibition, fifty-two fires. Damage £595. 1900.—Paris Exhibition, tixty-ono iires. Damage small. 1904. —St. Louis Exposition. Missouri building totally destroyed. 1905. Melbourne Exhibition. Loss small. 1906. —Milan Exhibition. Decorative arts section, Italian and Hungarian seeI times. Damage estimated at half a 'million. I 1907. Melbourne Exhibition, Queensland court. Loss £IOO and' narrow escape from destruction by fire. ] 1907. Christchurch Exhibition. | Four fire?. One loss paid, £lH2._ ’ 1909.—Hobart Exhibition buildings burnt. Disused 1910. —Brussels International Exhibition, August 14-15. Disastrous fire. Most of .sections occupied by foreign nations destroyed. Carvings, tapestries, Furniture, old china, pictures, etc., destroyed. Buildings insured for £92,000 destroyed. Twenty-live persons injured. 1910. —Brussels International Exhibition. Many other fires, some ol which were evidently the work of an jneen--1911. Wellington, New Zealand. Gas explosion. 1911. —Crystal Palace, London. Loss fairiv severo. 1913.—Ghent Exhibition. Spanish estimated at £19,000. | 1913.—(then Exhibition. Spanish pavilion, with many valuable exhibits, destroyed. 21/8/13. ■ 1913.—Ghent Exhibition. Rhineland ' restaurant and five pavilions destroyed 18/9/13. . 1913.-—Ghent Exhibition. Seven buildings burnt. Second fire in two dais. 20/10/13 1923.—Trieste Fair. A portion of this exposition had to be blown up to prevent destruction. February, 1923. 1923.—Lyons Fair, August. Estimated loss by fire, £40,000. 1923.—Calcutta. All-Indian Indus-

trial Exhibition, opened but afcw days, prnctically destroyed. 21/2/3. 1921.—Weinbl ;y Exhibition. The i advantage of having a lire brigade is acknowledged. Fires, 72. Damage, ! £2,000. , 1925.—Kansas City Automobile Ex- ' hibition. Damage estimated at 4,000,- , OOOdol. A large portion of exhibition ; destroyed. Live shook pavilion destroyed. . 1925.—Glasgow. Loss serious. Kelvin Hall destroyed.