ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 8 October 1913, Page 5

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM.

NEW SYSTEM FOR HAWERA.

For some time past the Hawera Fire .Board has been quietly considering the advisableness of the Installation of an up-to-date fire alarm system in Hawera m keeping with the growth of the bor°"g^ Accordingly it recently, invited Mr T. Hup inspector of fire brigades, to meet the Board to discuss the maY ter. The inspector accepted the invitation, and on Tuesday afternoon a special meeting, of the Board was held *? gi? I?, t0 TTtr h? with Mr Hugo. Mr R. D. Welsh was voted to the chair |iid there were also present: Messrs F. P. Corkill, J. Paton, A. Reid, and jcj. Morrissey. Inspector Hugo said he had gone fully into the matter with Superintendent .fettett, and he would recommend the installation of the Simplex system, which had recently been introduced m Masterton, Timaru, and other towns He would suggest that there be three circuits with 13 boxes. The Board would find that this system would cover the town for the present fairly well. Ihe Simplex firm would supplyall necessary appliances, and no doubt the -Board would have to arrange with the Telegraph Department to do tbo wiring. . Mr Paton: What was the cost of the •installation in Masterton,. and howmany points has it? ■ Mr Hugo: They have got five circuits with 12 boxes. There won't be a great deal of difference between Mas-. terton and Hawera. Mr Paton: Is the system at Masterton working ..satisfactorily- ••■■ ■'■■■.*, ■■ ..Mr Hugo: Yes; and so it is at lirnaru, Christchurch, and other towns; ihe secretary (Mr Elliott) read a letter from the; Masterton Fire' Board showing; that' the total cost of the installation of the Simplex system there was £326 18s sd. , Mr Hugo recommended that if the fcimplex system were adopted in Hawera that the Board : should obtain. gongs m connection with it which wereplaced on the posts and sounded. when the alarm was given. These gongs when _ sounded, remind persons that they direct attention, and so any one. inclined to give a false alarm would think twice before doing so.' In Christchurch they had prevented over 100 false alarms in the year. The chairman stated that so far as the electric alarm system was concerned it ended when it reached the Central btation, and that it did not connect with the fire bell. Mr Hugo: But you have a certain number of men sleeping on the premises. He suggested that a valve' from the fire bell should. be brought into the station and while the men were reading the, alarm-they could turn the bell on, and so arouse the outside firemen. ' The chairman: You can get the ?l ai™ "nder the Simplex system from lo different places. Mr Paton: As against one from the bell, which you have to come and ring. Mr Paton.asked Superintendent Pet-' tett if the proposed system suited the requirements of Hawera. The Superintendent: Yes. He had great faith in the system, which he thoroughly understood, and it could always be extended as the town grew. The chairman to Inspector Hugo: Failing this system being adopted oa the ground of expense, have you anything else to suggest? , ■ Mr Hugo: There is a system of auxiliary alarm telephones. There again you are handicapped in not having an all-night telephone service. It ' would be better to go in for a little* more expense and have a system which would be in force all the time, instead of a cheap alternative alarm which would only be in use for a part of the time. ... , , .: After further discussion, Mr Corkill moved that the local members be a committee to procure a quotation for the supply of the appliances on the lines suggested by Inspector Hugo, and also to ascertain from the Telegraph Department whether it would be prepared to do the necessary wiring, and that the whole question be considered at the December meeting. Mr Paton seconded the motion, which was carried.