FIRE BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17868, 14 August 1918, Page 10

FIRE BOARD.

Tho Christohurch Fire Board met last night; present—Messrs H." Holland (chairman), J. Buchtan, A.'Williams, G. Kerruish, H. P; Hopkins, H.' K, Kusbridge' and F. Burgoyne. The statement of receipts showed' i credit balance of ££69 4s 3d. Accounts amounting to £075 6s were passed for payment, The superintendent, in his report, stated that the number of calls to tires or supposed fires was twenty-three, of which seven were for false alarms, eight for.chimney fires, and eight were tor aciual fires. The estimated loss on contents and liuildihgs was £1139, insurances amounted to £10,020, and the estimated value of property on which fires occurred was £13,425. The annual inventory of land, buildings,. plant and furniture belonging to the board was token during tho month, and assessed as follows:—Headquarters staff, £17,190 14s 3d; Sydenham £1704 Gs 6d; St Albans station, £IB3O 7s; general plant ffhree stations), £6223 Ss 6d; total, £03,948 lis.3d. The estimated value of plant and slock on Juno 30 was £9383. lis 3d. Re-ference-was made to tho fire alarm circuit extending to Solwyn and Ruskin Streets, Sydenham. (known as " A " circuit), being out of order, on July 21, owing to a leakage of current, presumably from the City [Council's electrical supply. Certain recommendations were made. . Superintendent Warner stated that the position in regard to leakage of current was a serious one for tho board and the city, and bo oeked that the board should be exonerated from blame if at any time an outbreak occurred and the call was not transmitted to the station owing to electrical'inteKuptions. The report also made reference to a letter from the Department of Internal Affairs in regard to tho storage of oxygen and ' ammonia cylinders, and included the superintendent's views, which wero' to the effect that it would not b° judicious for tho board to doal with tho matter by instituting a by-law under the Fire Brigades Act, as dual control would be created and would conflict with tho City Council orid their officers, although the firo dop&rtniont, owing to special training in that class of work, wns no doubt the proper authority for controlling all such •mVterg in the interests of public safety.

The report was adopted. . The chairman sta ( ed that tho interruption in the, alarm circuit was due to the snow--storm,, and the reason it could not be located was owing to all the insulators being covered with snow. It might be necessary for the board to consider the introduction of the, metallic system, which was vory expensive. William G. Tnrton (Levin) was appointed to the' position of motor mechanic, rendered vacant by the death of Foreman Davis.