AN UNJUST CHARGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 2871, 13 May 1932, Page 5

AN UNJUST CHARGE.

FIRE FIGHTING IN PAEROA. MANY MIS-STATEMENTS. A serious charge concerning the fighting of fires in Paeroa was ventilated and conclusively replied to at last evening’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council. The secretary, Auckland Fire and. Accident Underwriters’ Association, forwarded the following report from' its adjuster concerning the recent fire in a dwelling in Hall Street, and asked for a report as to the cause of the delay:—“lnsured gave the alarm to a passer-by who happened be a fireman, and he rang the fire bell. The fire station was only about sixty feet distant, but some defect had occurred in the pump and they had difficulty in obtaining water, and I understand it was twelve minutes before the water came through; consequently the fire was able to obtain a firm hold.” FIRE COUNCIL’S REPORT. The of the Fire Council, Mr E. Edwards, presented the following report:— Your committee have tb report that full enquiries have been made into tbe statements contained in the above letter. A report received from the Superintendent of the Fire Brigadejs attached hereto and gives a full reply to the allegations. The main complaint contained in the letter is that the water supply was not functioning' correctly owing to a defect in the pump. This is of course ridiculous, as no pumping system is used, the water supply being a gravitation one "with an average, pressure of 70 pounds to the square inch. As the adjuster who submitted the report made no effort to enquire from the Fire Council or the Superintendent of the Brigade, we do not think it hecessary to deal further with the letter except to reiterate our previous statement that the letter is full of mis-statements.

The report from the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, Mr W. Moore, gave details of the time, locality, ttc, of the fire and continued: The alarm was not given to any member of the Brigade, none being aware of the fire until the bell was This was done by two Borough Council employees who were working in the locality on tiie opposite side of the building from which the fire started. They state , that when they were first aware of the fire flames were breaking through the roof. Members of the Brigade and other persons in different localities state that at'the first sound of the fire bell when their attention was attracted great volunjes of dense smoke showed that the fire had a very strong hold. Members of the Brigade arrived with all promptness to find that the back portion of the building was practically destroyed. Although the building is only 66 feet from the Fire Station the engine had to be taken to the main street where the nearest street.hydrant is .situated,-a distance of - five chains seven yards. From, there the leads, had to be operated back to the fire, four chains. Concerning the alleged defect in the pump, no pumps are used whatsoever, pressure .from gravitation being normal .

Reliable witnesses state the time from the ringing of the fire bell to the water striking to be six, seven, and in the largest estimate eight minutes. Immediately the hose was coupled up the water was turned on. There was absolutely no delay or difficulty in obtaining water from the water mains. The reports were received, and it w T as decided to forward copies to the Underwriters’ Association.