GREY FIRE BOARD.

Grey River Argus, 28 June 1922, Page 7

GREY FIRE BOARD.

At the meeting there were present: MVcssrs J. Steer (chair map), G, T ’ K - Skoglund, J. McGinley :,n p Parfitt. Apologies were re ceivcjy; from Messrs Grierson and CamThe chairman thanked members staff for the past year’s work, saythe officers :,jul men of the Brigade F had all carried on well without anv

trouble. On the motion of Messrs McGinley and Skoglund, Mr Steer was re-elected chairman for the 14th term of office, he being the only original member of the board remaining on it. At the quarterly meeting, correspondence was read us follows: — From Department of Industries and Commerce, Christchurch, with refcreuc? to goods manufactured in New Zealand, suggesting that every encouragement be given to New Zealand goods, more b especially al present, in order to re I lieve unemployment.— It was' decided K that preference be given to New Zea-

■ land manufactures. ■ From Department of Internal AfI fairs, acli now lodging board ’s '' ' digesting that Fire Board’s financial year Wend on March 31, instead of .lune 30 as Wit present. » The ( hrist'hurt h Fire Brigade ■wrote reference to malicious false alarms fire, gml asked the board to <o()l"<'rato in action against those rcsponsihlle for such alarms.—ll was decided 1° Ico-operate as requested. The secretary of the Grey District " : lr Memorial Fund wrote, asking for :l Al .pint ion.—The Chairman moved that G«‘j,board regrets that no funds are aftnlable. fjhe estimates for the year ending •’lAio 30, 1923, were considered and apF I’he Town Clerk, Greymoufh, ■wrote | with reference to stand-pipes on MaH whera and Richmond Quays. Mr M> - ■ iGinley said when he referred to the I matter at tho meeting of tin l Borough I Council, he thought that £I.S was the I 'charge for one pipe. The secretary said -the board wrote to the Borough Council, asking them to pry half the cost of the work. The total cost of cleaning both pipes was about £IS. The borough was liable. Mr McGinley said the borough denied liability. The chairman said the Borough Council was liable for the pipes’ upkeep. The board used the water facilities as provided by the borough, ami when repairs were necessary the board called the attention of the council to the matter. Mr McGinley said if the Borough Council was liable they should keep the pipes in bettor condition. , Doth pipes must have been in a very bad state as no water could get through. The chairman said a grating at the bottom of the pipes caused the trouble. They ha 1 been down about 25 years, but. now, after cleaning, were good for another 20 years. Superintendent T. Clarke reported: — During the past year the Brigade has received seven calls as against 16 last year. Of this number, one, a 12-roomed dwelling with contents was totally destroyed owing to its situation on a high level ami no water pressure avail aide. The other outbreaks were all small and were quickly dealt-with. The total value of properties on which tires occurred amounted to £10,6490 with a fire loss of £5753. The Brigade memi>< r-hip is at full strength (20) and during the year they have mustered for meetings and drills on 21 occasions, and once for inspection with an average attendance of 17. This with seven fire calls (average attendance) makes the total number of musters for the year 32. The annual inspection of the steam fire engine proved satisfactory and tho s steamer has been regularly tested and is in /good working order. The two suction pipes on Mawhcra and Richmond Quays have been overhauled and cleaned ana • are now in good order. The extension ladder that has been on order some time together with 500 ft of hose have come to hand and been placed in commission. A syren has been procured and fitted to the motor and is a great improvement. 1 would recommend that provision be made for 300 feet of new hose and couplings. The boll tower at the Central Station has been overhauled and necessary repairs to braces, stays, landings, etc., have been effected and the whole has been cleaned

ami tarred. The approach to the Central Station has been laid down in concrete anil necessary repairs to buildings ami plant have been attended to. Service honours are due to members as per list attached and I would thank your board to authorise the procuring of same. The duties of caretaker have been well and regularly attended to and the station buildings and plant kept clean and in good order. Gold Bar, one each: Fireman J. Grogan, due May 16, 1922; Deputy-Super-intendent P. Deere, due Juno 5, 1922; Fireman J. Kennedy, due July 9, 1922. Silver Bar, 1 each: Fireman 11. Blocksage, due July 15, 1922; Fireman W. Anderson, due April 15, 1922; Engineer J. Dumbleton, due June '2, 1922. The report was adopted and it was decided io procure the honours and medals. The Superintendent’s quarterly report drew the board’s attention to the amount of gorse and blackberries growing on various streets in the borough, in close proximity to houses and other properly. On several occasions the brigade had been called out to deal with dangerous gorse fires. Mr Skoglund moved that tin* portion of the report regarding gorse and noxious weeds, be referred to the Borough Council.—The motion was seconded by Mr McGinley and agreed to. Inspector Hugu’s report was as follows: —“An - V.f the Grcyivouth Brigale and its equipment was I made on March 21 last when ;Yt the in--1 spcction niustcr there were present the Deputy-Superintendent and 17 fiia men, these with the Superintendent and fireman on leave accounting for the fiW

Quay opposite Boundary Street. The engine ‘picked up -water’ very quickly, but when -working developed a dangerous knock apparently in the cylin-

dei'-i, the engine was then.taken to the Creek where the pump worked with little or no indication of knock. In view of the unreliable state of the high pressure water supply, and of the fact that should it be necessary to use the engine it will certainly be on or about the Quay, the fault should bo rectified* at once. A spiral spring should be fitted on the tongue of the hose reel to minimise any jar to the frame of the, motor when towing the reel. I have to ag: in recommend that a system of street fire alarms be installed. The station, and the equipment, Ayith the exception of the steam fire engine, was in good order and the inspection work was carried out by the members of the brigade in their usual willing and efficient manner.”