RUNANGA FIRE STATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1945, Page 3

RUNANGA FIRE STATION

FINE NEW BUILDING

Runanga now has a new fire sta- j tion. For the past 21 years the members of the Runanga Volunteer Fire Brigade have devoted all their spare time, evenings and week-ends, in the erection of the building. With the exception of two men, all engaged on the building were laymen at such work, but the workmanship will stand comparison with that of any master builder. The following rough balance sheet shows the value of the work and the source of the money. Total value of building £4,000. Total value of equipment £7OO. Total £4,700. ’ Mines Dept, grants £1,170. Runanga Borough Council £234. Donations, Runanga residents £146. Raised by Brigade members £215. Grants of hose, couplings etc. £7OO. Voluntary labour of Brigadesmen, 6,908 hours, valued at £1,035. Balance owing to merchants £l,lOO. Total £4,700. The building was designed by the Simcrintendent of the Brigade, J. L. Lui?, and the work carried out under his supervision, by the members of the brigade, with assistance from the Borough foreman, Mr. T. Merriman, and Mr. A. P. Ward. The work cominpnccd in November 1942, on the Borough reserve section formerly used as a tennis court, and centrally located between the Gymnasium Hall and the Seddon Memorial Library, McGowan Street. The building is of two storeys, 60 ft. by 34ft. and 26ft. high. On concrete foundations, the construction is in timber, with Gibraltar hoard sheeting, over which is fixed 2-inch mesh netting, applied with concrete stucco, painted cream. | The corners oi the front are rounded. ( as is the main entrance. The roof is of unique design. Timber sarked, it] is covered with two layers of malthokl. laid fiat, with fall to a point at the centre back of the building, eliminating all gutterings. The ground floor has at the front the engine room 33ft by 34ft., with secretary’s office and Superintendent’s office located in each of the front corners. The rear portion of the ground floor is devoted to living quarters. comprising' a sitting room 17ft by 19ft., finished in Gibraltar board, with decorative ceiling of pinex board. The walls are papered, and a tapestry brick fireplace also the work of the brigade, is installed. On the other side of the passage way are two bedrooms, each 12ft by 91ft. similarly finished, and with built-in wardrobes. A kitchen, showers and conveniences are yet to be provided as an addition to the rear of the main building. The whole of the top floor is devoted to a social hall 34ft by 55ft., pannelled to 6ft in figured rimu, varnished, and artistieal 1 -’ finished in pinex on the upner walls and ceiling. A tapestry brick fireplace, store-room and pantry with zipp heater complete the fittings. The floor has been machine sanded for dancing and the members of the brigade personally financed the cost of a piano. A concrete exit stairway from the social room has been provided in addition to the main entrance stairway from the engine room. Flush pannellcd doors .are installed throughout. In the engine room, which has plastered walls and pinex ceiling, is located the hand-reel, hose, couplings, stand pipes, branches, helmets and vulcaniser, which go to make up the ‘equipment of the brigade. It is hoped to provide a lire engine at an early date. Alongside the building the steel tower is erected on concrete pillars. The angle iron which goes to make the bell tower formerly was part of the aerial standards for the old Blackball mine coal conveyor, which was dismantled and transported to Run ( anga by the men. A smaller bell is on hand, and it is proposed to provide a< small station at Dunollie, where this bell will be erected. The whose work of the building is complete, even to the construction of a concrete footpath for the full frontage of the station, which has its name embellished in red in raised letters on the front. The building will be officially opened to-morrow, when delegates to the United Fire Brigade conference at Westport, will be present.