PAHIATUA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 253, 25 September 1939, Page 11

PAHIATUA.

FIRE BOARD. Mr A. W. White prodded at the quarterly meeting ef the Pahiatua Fire Board cn Friday. The superintendent reported four false' alarms, one fire, and one chimney fire since the operation of the new siren. The brigade had also attended three practices. The personnel of tile brigade was new np to full •strength, comprising two officers, 14 firemen and two messengers. Air Hutton said that the adjuster's report cn the Rutland Hotel fire said that the brigade had done very good work yi nd had made an excellent save. An offer .from' the brigade members to supply the necessary labour in replacing th" wood"'i pi'es supporting the billiard table in the social room, provided the board could supply ibe metal and cement in the construction of piles was accepted, the beard agree ing to do their part. A recommendation from the superintendent that the painting and papering of the social room be carried out, was adopted. The secretary reported that the Borough Council had now connected two pumps, and on a 'test being carried out with the second pump ‘coupled - up, the pressure had risen in 20 seconds from 731 b to 961 b. As the rise ho had cxncctcd was ou>v 10;b. this must be considered very satisfactory, and there would lie enough water to supply two loads. Mr Cnrthew n-ked if the two pumps could be connected in the event of a fire. The secretary said that it. was merely a matter of a-sking the Borough Council for permission, and arranging for a man to switch the pump on. It was decided to approach the Borough' Council for permission to have tlie second pump switched on when necessary. The Hue maintenance officer (Mr C. A. Meade) reported on his inspections. “I saw tlie boy who was overcome by smoke at the Rutland Hotel fire, and bo certainly looked smoked.” said Mr Cnrthew during a discussion on the advisability of purchasing an oxvgen-hrcathing smoke helmet lor the brigade. The superintendent who recommended the purchase in his report, pointer) out that provision had boon made ,in the estimates for the purchase of a helmet, at a cost of approximately £ls. “Wo have only, the old sponge type now,” he said, “and they are positively dangerous.” Authority was given by the board for the purchase.