THE FIRE ON THE LEADING WIND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8483, 6 February 1891, Page 6

THE FIRE ON THE LEADING WIND.

THE FIRE BRIGADE'S EXPENSES. A.t the regular meeting of the City Council last evening, when the Legal Committee's report was considered, it was found to contain the following Memo, from the Town Clerk (new) re fire on ship Leading Wind: Your committee refers same to Council." The memo, of the Town Clerk was as follows :—"I would call the attention of your committee (the Fire Brigade Committee) to the fire on board the Leading Wind, an unrateable property, by which some £10 cxpenseshavebeen incurred and some thousand gallons of water used, the rough cost being 6d per thousand. The city gets nothing for this outlay, but the owners get their insurance, and it will no doubt result in the Harbour Board getting increased wharfage fees." * Appended was the following memo, from Mr. J. Hughes, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade:—"P. A. Philips, Esq., Town Clerk, Auckland. Sir, —The following particulars are in reply to your memo, of 23rd inst. re expenses, etc., for fire brigade attending fire on ship Leading Wind :20 men, six hours, £8 ; express hire and horse for reel, £1 Is 6d; cleaning plant and washing hose, 14s; Superintendent Hughes, 12 hours. Estimated quantity of water used, f>7,500 gallons. —I have, &c., J. Hughes, Superintendent Fire Brigade. The Mayor said this was a most important question, for it involved a liability when their brigade went outside the city. Thia cost something like £10 for the expenses of the brigade alone, besides the cost of the water used, and he thought that some one should contribute to the cost. The question was whether it should be the Harbour Board or the insurance companies. Some arrangement should be made for contribution when the Fire Brigade did duty outside the city. Mr. Crowthkr said that, considering the calamity which had occurred, he thought the city and the City Fire Brigade only did their duty under the circumstances in rendering all the assistance in their power, but he would make one to ask the insurance companies to contribute in such a case when effective work was done by the fire Brigade outside the city, by which their property was saved. He moved that the matter be referred to a committee to inquire into the whole matter.

Mr. Dignan seconded the motion, but he pointed out that the matter, under similar circumstances, had been previously referred to a, committee. lb then involved the whole question .of water supply to the wharf. The Harbour Board then asked to have the waberjsupply to the wharf supplied by meter, but the .committee -would not recommend this course, and the Council declined it. •3e feared ib would come to the same again, nit he would second the motion. The motion was agreed to.