PALMERSTON NORTH FIRE BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9544, 22 June 1911, Page 7

PALMERSTON NORTH FIRE BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETNG.

Tho statutory annual meotinu of the Palmcrston North Firo Board was held at the Central Firo Station yesterday morning. There were present: Messrs E. J.' Armstrong, F. Mowlem, J. A. Na(sh, W. T, Wood, C. A. Ewen, and J.. J. Mallard, being tho newly-appointed memof tho Fire Board. An apology was received from Mr R. M. Simpson for unavoidable absence. The Chairman (Mr E. J._ Armstrong) in his opening remarks said that the important event during the past year was the opening of the new station in August. The new building was found to supply a much needed want, both as affecting free- and rapid provision for promptness in lira prevention, and also better utilisation of tho brigade's services by suitablo concentration and accommodation. The advisability of obtaining an up-to-dato motor firo engine with full adjuncts was introduced at last annual meeting, and the matter should be kept .steadily" in view. The termination of tho honourable position that had twice been conferred upon him in electing him chairman of tho Board called for a few words.

Personally ho had endeavoured to carry out his duties in that capacity to the best of his ability and in accordance witl) the approVal of his colleagues on the Board. A little matter, that.of the ease of tho A. and P. Association and tho question of licensing a newly-erectoci building, was before the executive, but it considered it was a matter outside its jurisdiction and they upheld the superintendent in the position lie took up as being one in every way in accord with his statutory duties. In this the Board look upon itself the onus, after interview, ing tho parties affected and.the surrounding circumstances, that a little relaxation might bo permissible, and possibly the feeling of tho Doard would tend ro,soften down the asperities which must unavoidably supervene under a too rigid,'-demand for the full observance by the public of the undoubted necessarily stringent re-' quircmente which tho safeguarding of the; public in places of amusement demands,;, and that such should be enforce.d;gener- : ; ally. Ho held that tho Board's hrstidtity; was to support and uphold tho :stipenn : t tendent in his endeavour to c;ir'#out:; his duties with firmness and decision. . \/ ! .

Tlie secretary then read the documents appointing the new members, arid/asked; that a chairman bo appointed ensuing yeav. ,;;,•>!'.W\ Mr W. T. Wood, after refemng,;;?td the good work dono by the retiring chairman (Mr E, J. Armstrong), mo;vc;d:;;'tha> ho bo ro-elected. ■ ■■>> ,;, >. ; -' Mr Wood's remarks wero unanimously: approved by the other members ofv.tlid'; Board present, and Mr E. J. Armstrong; was re-elected as chairman for' the.' : ..en- ; suing year, ■v/^':^ Mr Wood referred to the question of; th 0 Superintendent's report upon;';. tlw Showground buildings, and _ qiiestioncd; the wisdom of installing an lncli/service, on the recommendation of Mr Hugo: at being absolutely valueless for fire '■suppression purpose*. 'V^y Messrs Ewon and Mallard both endorsee!, the remarks made by Mr Wood,,'z^^'; Mr Mallard instanced the recenfc-iro;:

that took place at Napier as a: cjisoMiv; point, and after a full discussion, itv-Syais: resolved: "That the Superintendent-tying;' clown an exhaustive report to the ;.Boar.d- ; on the question of adequate protection;; against fire, covering all the A. Association's buildings. In rcfe'rencoY'to the latter, the Superintendent C]it'cfed, ; ;an. emphatic protest against the use of', tlto new skating rink for any other p.iirpose: than that it was licensed for, and J).q- was} instructed to forward a copy of t.hte:p'r.o\ : test to the Borough Council for its con-; sideration. . Tho superintendent, Mr C. C. \):arner,, submitted the following report. \vh.ich; : 'wiis; adopted:-The number of calls .to..fire's-, or supposed firos has been 45. O'hthese 4 were false alarms,' 5 were- chiinhpysj</3 . rubbish (ires and 33 were actjiaPfir-es;; Of the latter 13 resulted in trifling-dam---age, 7 in slight damage, 5 in considerable.,;, damage and 8 in total destruction.--,. The-, estimated total fire loss for the .year is; Contents £3322, buildings £6433. .'No. very serious fire has occurred throughout.; tho year. This is in a largo..measure-;-duo to tho general public becoming; in'MO; acquainted with the methods of lending;' alarms to the-station. The quest ion -pi. installing street firo alarms in Hie- \husiness. blocks and thickly populated parts, of/.the.' borough will require the Board's coiftidcr,, atiori in the near future. The. water supply has been a great deal mp.rc.sati* factory since January. 1911, the*, average, pressure being 901bs, as against 751bs. in ■ tho previous year. The pla'iit. >is W.in good working order. The. . nf the brigade has been and■'. tho attendance at fires and practices'has- ; been very satisfactory, the average at-., tendance at fires being 18. Two- perm.a r !• nent fireman have been added-; -to, the..' strength of tho brigade diiring/ltecafc-;: During the year the following; have complied with the requirements.-of; : - the "Firo Brigades Act" and- : liave;.-liad... licenses granted to them. All ili.6. places-; of worship and the Empiro Hal^to;;' tors' Hall, His Majesty's Theatre,-Mu;m ; ;. cipal Hall, Opera House Odclfelloxys■-■ ; Hall and Zealaivlia Hall. In aocordanco-;: with instructions received from an inspection was made of tho sclippkpom,' pvits. A report was prepared: I'ir ;eacn- ; school showing the inadcquato«-!Siqn.; ; made for (ho children's safety sJjQjjW -am.; ■. thing occur in tho nature of a.^anipeclo'.. through fire, earthquake or another,. imforscen cause. The reports; ;\vere.Jor<-.-warded to the various committee:... -llio-: matter was one of vital importance,-: «.\o; ; the children attending the schoqlsv, in .; conelusion, the Superintendent ■• would like to thank the of the Police Force, and the Bngade;;hu>\ ; geon, Dr. Peach, for their ance at lill times. '■^i\i.: : . The recommendations of the,-board on-, tho Superintendant's report were; - as; tolv. i "That a letter be forwardedifoVtlje-lBp;;-rough Council drawing the attention;.pi;, the Council to tho fact that ; : pe;nuiu>ula,. tors and bicycles are f )o^^;to;-.mpodf>. the main entrance of His Majesty s,itiLatro, being a source of danger fa Herons-; in tho event of anything occnrnngV..v#e ; : nature of a stampede that rhrough fire or other unforscenpuses.; {? "That a recommendation bejorwarded,. to the Borough Council «qiicsting#p% to put a. stipulation when .letting:,r;tne. Spin House, that the on during the intervals and M»Jc, acts to obviate the f'k">^;™fe : 11S occurred during the ance- of "Tho Whip." , ;«:;^.i^; Several other matters in local places of ontertainmont|;wprev- m. dealt with. - : 'W :; ';a ' ;»■' Tho Superintendent's report,,mth,r ?v commendations attached ■ The following ,:ap,wages at fires £IOO, boot advance, £22. 10s, horse maintenance £75, .m**™>. £2 10s new un forms £l2;.total,:,£2d/,,"■F ? Board - o Metropolitan Building Society ~£540, --sU £ Id plant purchased froin^ough £44 14s, superintendent »"d ■ fife salary £l9O, other orv etc £lO, insuroiiccs £25,, ono\at.m>, Ter'nS End station £ls, contingencies £25 fund for motor engine pircliasi for ear 1911-12, £1699 14sJ. ,g Accounts amounting to £l7O, !(:>,■ Wi I wcro passed for payment. ''/f/V