HASTINGS FIRE BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 163, 27 June 1911, Page 7

HASTINGS FIRE BOARD.

The annual meeting of the Hastings Fire Board was held this afternoon in the Council Chambers. SEPT. BRAUSCH'S REPORT. I beg to state that the plant is in good working order, with the exception of the ladders, which require repairing and painting. Fireman W. Graham has resigned ‘through pressure of business, and F. Saunders has been appointed fireman in his place. Three new uniforms are required to replace others worn out. The fire-engine boiler was inspected and found to be in failcondition. W. O’Neill stood by while the steamer was being dismantled for inspection; amount due to him for above time and service, £l.

Five hundred feet of new hose should be procured as an emergency stand-by, as the whole of the hose is now at present in use. Fires.—Since my last report there* have been only two fires, neither of a serious nature, one being extinguished by the proprietor of the house before the arrival of the brigade, and the other by some members of the brigade by buckets of water and fire pump. Inspection was held by Inspector Hugo on March 20th, one man being absent. The brigade was ordered out to wet practice at sewer manholes. On which occasion the brigade, on arriving with steamer at Charlton's corner, had great difficulty in lowering the traps, everything being rusted up and out of order. At Boyd A Chesterman's corner the manhole was in a similar condition. They also found great scarcity of water, it taking 21 minutes for the water to rise sufficiently. 1 found that the 3in well at Launauze’s corner had been shut off for some considerable time, and recommend that it be opened at once, and that some of the property owners with Sin wells be asked to let them run, as there was practically no water in the sewer. I also wrote to the Borough Council recommending that all trap doors be attended to at once, and put in proper working order, and that the trap-door at Charlton's corner be lowered every night during the dry weather. Report on Public Buildings.—ln reply to your letter dated 18/3/1), 1 wish to say that I had already reported on Salvation Army Hall and Catholic School in report dated October Bth. 1910. 1 thought that the Council Chambers did not come under the Act. I would like to know if the Public Library comes under the Act. and also the Masonic Hall.

The Princess Theatre has three exits from circle and* four from the I downstairs portion. There are also two extra exits from downstairs opening outwards, which could be used in an emergency. The seating accommodation in the dress circle is 150. and in the downstairs 850, and the number of exits are easily capable of letting out 800 people in a short time. The theatre is provided with three extinguishers. Since my last report the exit on the eastern side has been altered to lead out into the vacant half-acre section adjoining. The only gas jets usedin the building are in the dressingrooms, one in entrance porch, staircase, and ticket-box, on the stage, and in the rest of the building the electric light being used. There are several gas jets along the walls, but they have no burners on, and I can see that they have not been used for a considerable time. I have inspected the building a good many times at entertainments and picture-shows, and found all fire exits open and always clear; also clear space of 6ft round operating box, according to rules and regulations. The King's Theatre is provided with 5 exits, 5 chemical extinguishers ; no gas used in the building, nothing but electric light. I have inspected this building a good many times during entertainments and found on three occasions two of the fire exits locked, keys of which were kept in the office or ticket-box. I found it necessary to order these exits to be opened. On two occasions, 28th April and 25th December, I found all ways blocked with chairs and the house overcrowded, also the operating "box not haring 6ft clear according tv the rules. The operating box is placed within 2ft of fire escape upstairs, leading out into the balcony. 1 suggest that two more fire I escapes should be put upstairs, as ‘ the present arrangement of fire escapes upstairs is of little use. The following is a list of bu?d ings which have not been rect’.ie-i on notice being sent througn the secretary-- Salvation Armv HnU. Heretaunga st reel ; Catholic I Schools, Heretaunga street and 1 Lyndon road; Woodford House, Market street ; Technical Schoo’. Karamu road.

Council Chambers, Heretaunga Street.—Wooden buildings, iron roof, isolated, two doors opening

from main hall and one from lobby, all opening inwards. Doors to h» altered to open outwards; also another door to be placed in side wall towards Hastings street; door to be 4ft wide, opening outwards to act as fire exit.

1 suggest that in future all plans and specifications in connection with public places about to be erected be shown to the Fire Inspector Superintendent before per mits be issued by the Building Inspector. This would save any alteration and expense to the proprietor after the building has been erected.

I would like to bring under your' notice a serious matter, that is the ordering of materials, etc., by the members of the brigade without first consulting the superintendent or the secretary.