ELTHAM FIRE BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 October 1927, Page 10

ELTHAM FIRE BOARD.

QU A RTER LY MEETIN G. (Emm Our Own Correspondent). . The quarter'v meeting of tli3 Elt-ham Eire Hoard was held m the Borough Council Chambers yesterday, when there were present: Messrs _E. H. Thomas (chairman), I. J. Buidger, A Kemp and J- Jones. An apology was received from Mr Adlani. SUPER INTENDENT’S REPORT. Thu superintendent, Mr li. A. Nuttall, stibmitted the following annual reI'.ort, which was adopted:— We have had live calls lor the year, and four of those have been in this quarter. All these tires have been stopped without much Joss to the insurance companies. The amount of insurance involved for the year totalled £9260. The fire loss to insurance companies amounted to £lo<o, against the previous year’s loss of £2349. , . Personnel of Brigade.—Hie brigade is still .up to full strength and has been s. a during the year, including five met. on the station. The average attend ante during the year was 32 mcmcpt* out of a total of 3G. The average attendance at fires was SO per cent oi the members, an excellent record. Inc conduct of the brigade during the yen. has been excellent. The harmony existing between the officers and men during the the year hits been all that could be desired. Plant—The plant is at present m <rood order. The new laddtar and bucket have been added to the plane, including ropes for ropiug-off streets as occasion warrants. The water pressing has been fair during the year. • 1 have made my annual inspection ot all public buildings, including schools, tea rooms, churches, etc., and find evervthfaig satisfactory excepting the front doors of the Town Hat • these are, in mv opinion, very unsat-isfactory and should be attended to In conclusion, 1 wish to thank the committee, on behalf of my brigade for tins consideration you have shown dnii,i<r the year, and we trust that the fellow ship existing will continue to exist between the board and the bnSa |uperintendent Nut tall reported for the quarter that the brigade had been called out on lour occasions, llie various fires and amount ojf damage resulting from each was reviewed. Ihe new ladder had arrived and had been tested out proving very satisfactory. Everything at the station was in good workink order. No alteration had taken place during the quarter in the Personnel of the brigade. There was still a full equipment of men on the station. The brigade had generally carried out the drills in a very satisfactorv manner, and the men had proved themselves to be very' efficient in niefigliting matters. The water pressure for the quarter had. been very satisfactory. .Superintendent Nuttall applied for one smoke screen branch at a cost of £4 10s. The report was received. It was decided to purchase the smoke screen apparatus as requested. FIRE POLICE CORPS. The chairman stated that he- would like to see a. fire police corps set up to assist at fires, particularly in keeping the crowds back. He moved to this effect and Mr. Jones seconded. Mr. Bridget- said that he could not see the necessity- for the corps. It was the duty of the police to maintain order in the crowd and see that the brigade was not hindered in their work. 'l'lie resolution was carried. „ Mr. Bridget - then moved, that the police be requested to see that the crowds, gathered at flies should not hamper the work of the brigade bycrowding too close to the building or water supply-. Mr. Jones seconded, and it was carried.

A lengthy discussion took place concerning the brigade is attendance at fires outside the borough. The chairman strongly advocated this '.service, but the other members were opposed to any operations outside the board’s area owing to legal 'difficulties.