SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9714, 9 January 1895, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

FIRES AND FIRE APPLIANCES.

BUPFRINTENDENT HUGHES'S - OPINION.

In view of the recent) great fires in Pittstreet and at the Asylum, and of the probability that at the next meeting of the City Council discussion will arise as to fires and fire prevention and extinction in Auckland, a Herald representative waited upon Mr. Hughes, the superintendent of the Auckland brigade, and asked him to give a reason why there had been such a failure to cope with the outbreaks. Superintendent Hughes explained that it was his intention to present a detailed report on the subject at the next meeting of the Council, and therefore did not care to anticipate that. He, however, had no objection to answer a few general questions. That there had been an inadequacy of means to deal with the fires he readily conceded, the failure being attributable to lack of water pressure. '"The two fires—the one ab Pitt-street and the one at the Asylum—broke out at the same time," said the Superintendent, after he had consented to be interviewed. "I, of course, could not leave the town to go to the Asylum, so I did the best that lay in my power—l sent out what help I could. At the Pitt-street fire I expected, with the Kyber pressure, to got 441b to the square inch at I?eresfordstreet and Karangahape Road. We did gob that." " What was the reason •" , "It was in consequence of a burst at the corner of Kelson-street and Customstreet which drew the water off. I did not know of the burst at the time, nor for two days afterwards. Ib was discovered by one of the Kauri Timber Company's workmen the night of the fire, the valves serving it being shut off at 10.52 P ; m - At Pitt-street wo were in this position: The burst 1 have mentioned drew off the pressure in one direction ; the Asylum main drew it off in another, so that what we had was very feeble. The 441b pressure I should have had would have given me, with an inch nozzle, a rise of 37 foot. Iliad to reduce the nozzle to half an inch and 5-Sths of an inch. As soon as I felt the feeble pressure I sent a message_ to tlm valve house, for them to communicate with the turncock and Kyber Pass, to put on the mountain pressure, which would havo given a pressure of 1101b to the square inch in Karangahape Road. This was done, but not till afterwardsnot till the second fire in Pitt-street broke out. pressure caused three big bursts." " Then how do you account for the lack of pressure &b the Asylum?" asked our representative. "The main was not large enough for the distance the water had to go," was the reply. "Friction along the pipes would diminish the pressure, and that loss would be increased by the use of canvas hose which greatly adds to the friction." "I have here,' 1 wont on Mr. Hughes, turning up his papers, "a report on the life of hose by tests made by the Metropolitan (London) Fire Brigade. The life of leather hose is '20 years ; that of best rubber-lined canvas hose is 14 years ; while that of unlined canvas hose is but four years. The loss by friction in the first-class of hose is 211b per hundred feet; on tho second 151b per hundred feet; and on the unlined canvas hose 341b per hundrod feet. With the Ponaonby pressure going down the pumping column with a head of water 200 feet, the pressure afe the Asylum ought to have been 861b. Yet there would have been a loss of 341b per hundred feet." "Do they use this kind of hose at the Asylum, do you know," was a natural question after this. " Yes," was the reply, "and in hundred feet lengths. In October, 1592, I reported on the tire appliances at the asylum, and as a result of my report water was circulated around the building. On making inquiries as to the size of the main going from tho main building to the Auxiliary Asylum, which I did not expect, I was informed it was three inches. I then said a three-inch pipe was of no use in case of a fire at the Asylum." " How do you account for the second outbreak at Pitt-street," asked our represensentative.

"It is my usual practice after a fire is extinguished to send a man round to see the fire is all out; then Captain Field and tho Salvage Corps take charge of the debris and salvage of insured buildings. If ho requires any appliances they are left. On this occasion the debris being all quenched, and the officers having reported all safe, I did not consider there was any danger. lam now of the same opinion, that when I left the fire there was no danger of the hotel catching fire from any debris burning outside. The second outbreak is a mystery. "I have asked fora lull investigation," said Superintendent Hughes, in conclusion, " and I think lam entitled to one. During my 20 years in Auckland it was the first time, as far as my recollection serves me, that a fire has broken out after I had left."