HASTINGS FIRE SERVICE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 168, 1 July 1912, Page 6

HASTINGS FIRE SERVICE.

INSPECTOR HUGO’S REPORT.

Mr. T. T .Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades, has forward the following report to the Hastings Fire Board, relative to the Hastings fire service and plant:— “I have the honour to inform you that an inspection of the Hastings Fire Brigade and Fire Police Corps, with their equipment, was held on the Sth inst. Of the brigade there were present the Superintendent, Deputy-Superintendent, 20 firemen and three messengers. These, with two men on leave and one absent, account for the twenty-eight men, the full strength of the brigade, a satisfactory muster. Of the fire Police, with a total strength of 19 on the roll, there were present the captain, two lieutenants, and nine constables, with 3 on leave, 2 sick and 2 absent, an improvement when compared with the attendance of the members of this corps at my previous inspections.

"Readings of the standard pressure on the newly-installed high pressure water supply reticulation was taken at various points, the water being turned on from the reservoir for the purpose. The pressure registered at the corner of Market street and Lyndon road was 1261b5, and at two different points in Heretaunga street 1271bs and 127£lbs respectively. These figures perfectly agree with the static head and the height of the water in the reservoir at the time—a very satisfactory result. "Certain experiments were carried out with different lengths of hose and nozzles, and during their course it was apparent that some of the hose was not in sufficiently good condition to stand the pressure of-water that- is now available, and the. whole stock of hose requires testing, and any lengths defective either repaired or replaced ; also difficulty was experienced with some of the couplings owing to there being several different gauges of thread amongst them. This, however, has been remedied. "As suggested while in Hastings instead of building a gallows for the purpose of hose drying, the bell tower at present standing on the railway reserve should be removed from there and erected at the fire station, its normal place. It could then be utilised for hose drying.’ drill and lookout purposes.

"I noticed during the course of the before mentioned experiments that there was a tendency to handle the appliances more roughly than was at all necessary. This should be corrected by the brigade officers whilst the usual drills are being carried out. There are several matters in connection with the station fittings, as pointed out in my previous report, not yet carried out, though I understand they will be attended to in due course."