FIRE BOARD.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 679, 31 March 1909, Page 5

FIRE BOARD.

- ' STATUTORY MEETING. The statutory meeting of the Palmerston North fire Board was held yesterday. There were present:— Messrs R. Essex (ohairman), J. J. Mallard, R. M. Simpson, 0. A. Ewen, E. J, Armstrong, H. Haydon, and A. Turner. CORRESPONDENCE was dealt with from Dunedin Fire Board, forwarding a resolution that the Minister for Internal Affairs be asked to provide for an inquiry being held into every fire. -The Board has already written to the Minister regarding the holding ' of inquiries. P.N. Fire Polioe and Salvage Corps, asking to be placed on the same terms of pay, eto,, as the fire-men.-Board regrets it oannot accede to the request. Fire Brigade, asking the Board to pay for firemen's long service medals and bars.-Granted.

0. A. Ewen, re loan for the new fire station. -Meeting to be called about the middle, of May to. consider the whole qnostion.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Supt, Warner reported that fromJanuary 26 to date there had been nine calls, of which one was false. The following ntatistioß were given: Estimated loss of property not insured £415, estimated loss oovered by insurances £3272, insurance ,on property in whioh fires ooourred £6725, estimated value of property in whioh fires ooourred £IO,BBO, approximate fire loss in the borough from January 26 £3687, making an approximate lire loss from January 1 of £4042. The report states that the Brigade is at full strength, 25 mem-

bers, and the Fire Polioe have been reduced by one, leaving complement of 89 officers and men all told. The dißoipline of the Brigade is improving and the attendance at fires and praotioes has been very satisfactory, The present business premises in Palmerston are of large oubioal capacity, and are built of wood with no briok

dividing walls, and with buildings of this description tho fire risks are much greater, and with no system of fire alarms mnoh valuable time is lost in ruuning to the station to turn on the bell. What is reoommended is that seeing the large area taken-in with the Palmerston North fire district the' Board, when 'drawing up the estimates for 1909-1910, consider the advisability of having eight fire alarm oall points at an approximate cost of £2lO. .

PSOLUTIONS. It was resolved that a typed oopy of the Superintendent's report be furnished to every member of the Board; that two. more ladders be procured at a oost of £4; that the question of the by-laws be left in the

hands of local members; that a sum of 80b be voted as au allowance to

inbstitute fireman, H. Rivers, as the Insurance polioy did not cover the lobs for injuries received whilst in the exeoufciou of his duty on Maroh 11th. .. ■

Acoounta totalling £lls 5s 2d were lassed for payment. It was resolved that the water pres-

sure gauge be taken in direot by an inoli pipe from the street instead of being oonneoted with the half-inoh station supply aa a present, >