ELTHAM FIRE BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 June 1926, Page 9

ELTHAM FIRE BOARD.

BRIGADE’S OPERATIONS. - QUARTER’S WORK REVIEWED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Eltham Fire Board, met on Thursday in the. Council Chambers, Those present weye: Messrs E. Thomas (chairman), A. Kemp, T. C. Stanners, 1 J. Alloim, Jones, Waters (secretary), and H. A. Nuttall (superintendent). The superintendent reported tihat he had made a thorough inspection of all the public buildings, including schools, churches, etc., and his report on each was adopted by the hoard. The superintendent also reported _on a two-storey wooden building consisting of three rooms upstairs and l five rooms downstairs. Three or four children and two aduffls occupied the upstairs rooms. He recommended that this place be licensed as a tenement house under the borough by-laws so that he could enforce the provisions regarding fire escapes, which axe at present unsatisfactory. He also recommended that firemen should be in attendance at the Town Hall for every function, including dancing. ' SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The following report of the work of the brigade during the; past quarter was adopted: We have bad only one real call this quarter, and that was on May 19 at 4.22 p.m. in Stanners street. This fixe took place in outbuildings consisting of three rooms, garage, washhouse, and music r00m,,-all under one roof. The fire started in the washhouse through a spark from the copper. The alarm was given by telephone to the station. The brigade mustered up smartly, and with one lead soon had the fixe under control. Other calls have been given to the brigade owing to rubbish being left burning over night. I believe the night-watchman has also reported this matter. Sometimes it is difficult for him to locate where the smoke is coming from. I think the council’s attention should be drawn to this matter. They should either prohibit fires in the inner area, or the attention of the public should he drawn to the fact that it is a dangerous practice to leave rubbish smouldering at the hack of their premises over night. The brigade’s attendance at drills and meetings has been very .satisfactory, and the work for this quarter has been excellent. Last month the brigade held its annual Fake Cup competition, which is a wet event, and practically every man ‘■■'minoted. The times, recorded were the best in the history of the brigade. The event was won by Fireman Nees in 37sec. So far T have onlv put into commiscirm 200 feet of the new hose, which T have tested and found satisfactory. I would recommend that the hoard pro. enre four new sets of couplings, costing 9r>c ner set. nlns freight, .from 1 DvmerTin. for the balance of the new" hose. The -superintendent gave- details of other equipment ordered. The brigade at- present is up to full strength. During the quarter one man was transferred, and a new member lias joined up and is living on the station, making a total of five- men there. We have at present two men on the hooks waiting to join up". During the nuarter I introduced - the nightwatchman system, and so far I find- it quite satisfactory. Wa-ter pressure during this quarter and at this time rff the vear has been as usual. It has been twice down to 251 b. mid that would give me -a fighting pressure of about 121 b. The -council acted promptly, aud had it remedied immediately on being in-formed that the pressure was down. / ESTIMATES. The following estimates were approved : Receipts.—Balance brought down, £7O; insurance companies-, £225; Borough Council, £225; Government subsidy, £SO; total, £570. Expenditure.—Plant and equipment, £100; salaries and fire pay, • £133 j bri- , •/ f f ■ : ; 'U