NAPIER FIRE BOARD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 113, 27 April 1933, Page 4

NAPIER FIRE BOARD

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The annual general meeting of the Napier Fire Board was held last evening, the chairman, Mr J. W. Norrie, presiding over Messrs A. E. Bedford, J. Williamson, G. Mitford-Taylor and R. W. Goodger. The report of the superintendent, Mr J. G. Gilberd, was adopted. This read as follows;— “I have much pleasure in submitting for your consideration the annual report for the year ending March 31, 1933. “Fire Calls. —The total number of calls for the year ending March was 30, 16 less than last year. The Central Brigade received 23 calls, and the Port Brigade seven calls during the year. “Summary of Fires.—Actual fires, Central, 1932, 12; 1933, 8. Port, 1932, 2; 1933, 3. “Grass and rubbish. —Central, 1932, 20; 1933, 9. Port, 1932, 6; 1933, 2. “Chimney.—Central, 1932, nil; 1933, 3. Port, 1932, nil; 1983, nil. “False alarms.—Central, 1932, 4; 1933, 3. Port, 1932, 2; 1933, 2. “Totals. —Central, 1932, 36; 1933, 23. Port, 1932, 10; 1933, 7. Fire loss.—Value of property on fire: Buildings £8355. contents £5280; total,

£13,630. Insurance on property on fire: Buildings £6915, contents £3265; total, £lO,lBO. Value of property uninsured: Buildings nil, contents £150; total, £l5O. Loss to insurance companies; Buddings £1766 5/-, contents £548; total, £2314 5/1. Loss of property uninsured: Buildings nil, contents £10; total £lO. The total loss the previous year, was £3233 17/9. # “Staff.—The membership of the Central Brigade is 20, comprising superintendent, deputy-superintendent, three foremen and 15 men. Port Brigade has 12 members comprising lieutenant, foreman and 10 members. During the year Foreman H. Lanning, Fireman J. G. Gilberd, T. Moss and A. Flowers resigned from the Central Brigade and Fireman C. Riddell from the Port Brigade. “Competitions.—During the year the Central and Port Brigades were represented at the district competitions. “Government inspection.—Mr Girling Butcher inspected the Central and Poit Brigades on October 4 and 5. 1932. “During the year, in conjunction with Mr Oliver, Borough Inspector, an inspection was carried out, and wiiere there was a danger of a grass fire, notice wa s served on the owner to clean up the property. In the majority of case s this was done, the result being that the brigade received less than half the calls to grass fires than the previous year. “I would ask the board when the new council is elected to endeavour to get a by-law dealing with this matter. “In conclusion 1 wish to thank the members and secretary of the Fire Board for the assistance they have given me during the year, and also wish to thank tho officers and men of the Central and Port Brigades for their support and assistance during the year.’’ The election of the new chairman is to take place at the next meeting of the board. The meeting then went into commit, tee to give consideration to the estimates for the ensuing year, which a’e to be submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs for approval