HASTINGS FIRE BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 235, 11 September 1924, Page 3

HASTINGS FIRE BOARD.

The quarterly meeting of the board was held last evening. Air. G. A. Maddison, Mayor of Hastings, presiding. Messrs. P. Al. Oohr. S. T. Tong, and later, Thorne-George, were also present. QUARTERLY REPORT. Superintendent Keith reported four calls for the quarter—Economic Store, Oniahu road; Airs. Craik’s dwelling, Nelson street; chimney fire. Bank N.S.W.; chimney fire. Mr. R. Hay, Heretaunga, street. The manual engine was sold for £2O and 200 feet of second-class hose, for £lO. All the plant was in good working order AdoptedANNUAL REPORT. The superintendent submitted his annual report which stated that 25 caiis were received, as against 23 last year: 14 actual fires. 4 chimney fires, 4 rubbish fires, 2 grass fires and one blow-lamp fire. The value of property involved during the year was: Property £32,050, total insurance £19,250. total loss to all parties. £5,284. The strength of the brigade was: Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, 3 foremen. 1 station keeper, 16 firemen and 2 messengers Inspector Hugo paid one official visit, when he complimented the, men on their smart appearance on parade and on the good order in which the plant was kept. The fire plugs were in good order. A new motor fire engine and an extension ladder had been added to the equipment, whilst 1,000 feet of hose was expected shortly. He made his annual inspection of all public buildings and found them in good order. He thanked the officers of the brigade for their assistance and for the way they had carried out their duties and he thanked the board, and the secretary, for their unfailing cour* tesy towards himself.—Adopted.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. The report traversed the work of the year and inter alia stated that the insurance companies’ returns of premiums, received within the Hastings Fire 1/istrict for year ended December 31st., 1922, amounted to £16,859 14s 9d. The cost of the new fire engine was £1173 17s 9d. provided for by overdraft. At the end of the year, the ove rural t stood at £969 14s Bd. the difference of £204 3s Id being the surplus tor the year on the ordinary account, including £175 from sale of steam lire engine.—(Adopted.) CORRESPONDENCE. A. Garnett, architect, reported that he had accepted Mr. J. Hackett’s price of £9l 10s for the erection of a balcony on the brigade buildings. — Action endorsed. Logan Williams and White wrote ro the by-laws, suggesting that by-law No. 1 be amended by deleting clause 40 and substituting: “After the Superintendent and Deputy Suprintendent, members of the brigade shall be classed as follows: Foreman, senior fireman, motorman and fireman and they shall rank according to numbers, or rotation of service in their respective stations.—A resolution was carried accordingly.

GENERAL. Regarding the question of having the members of the brigade instructed in first aid ambulance work, it was decided to write Air. Williams, of St. John’s Ambulance Society Hastings, asking if he would afford the necessary instruction. The question as to whether the manual fire engine was the property of the Fire Board or the Fire Brigade was discussed and the superintendent, in reply to the chairman said that the manual was bought with money actually collected by the brigade, individually. for that purpose, whilst the hose reels and uniforms were purchased with money raised by entertainments, organised by the brigade. The Fire Brigade only received the fire steamer from the Borough Council. The brigade agreed to hand all their property over to the council, on condition that the fire manual was left to the brigade for competition practice. The council sold it to th© board. On the motion of the chairman and Air. 8. T. Tong, it was decided that the £2O realised by the sale of the fire manual be handed over to the Fire Brigade, as a donation to their funds. The question of installing a, fire alarm system in Hastings was held over.

Accounts amounting to £5B 0s 6d were passed lor payment.