AUCKLAND FIRE BRIGADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11691, 28 June 1901, Page 6

AUCKLAND FIRE BRIGADE.

NECESSITY FOR NEW APPLIANCES. VIEWS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

! APPEAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I A DEPUTATION", representing the Auckland ! Chamber of Commerce, waited on the Mayor i (Dr. J. Logan Campbell) and the chairman ; of the Fire Brigades Committee (Mr. P. | Dignan) yesterday, at the City Council ! Chambers, to urge that the city should pro- ! cure bettor fire extinguishing appliances, ! and to gather information as to what is now j being done by the Council in this direction. j There were present, representing the ChamI ber of Commerce, Messrs. D. R. Caldwell I (president), A. H. Nathan, A. M. Myers, i H. C. Tewsley, J. Kirker, W. Thome, D. Goldie, P. A. Vaile, G. Aickin, Robertson, ! Hal), and Dean It was understood 'nat ! the deputation would meet the Mayor and ! members of the Fire Brigades Committee, j but Dr. Campbell and Mr. Dignan. were the I crily members of the Council present. Mr. H. W. Wilson, town clerk, and Mr. Hugo, i superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, who is now in Auckland, reporting to the Council on the needs of Auckland in the way of fire extinguishing appliances, were also present. Mr. Dignan apologised to the committee for the absence of Mr. A. Kidd, who was unable to attend through illi ness. Mr. Caldwell stated that the Chamber of i Commerce had passed a resolution deploring the inefficiency of Auckland's fire brigade appliances, and the deputation was the outc< me of that resolution. The present condition of fire brigade, matters in Auckland was a standing disgrace to the city. What the deputation wished was a statement as to what was being done, and what the City Council intended to do to provide the city with an up-to-date fire brigade and appliI'lii.sS. .dr. Dignan said the Council was dealing with the matter, end in the course of next week would be able to show some practical results. Competitive designs for a new fire brigade station had been received, and he could assure the deputation that the Coun. oil intended to carry the matter through. Any suggestion the deputation cared to make would have immediate consideration. Mr. Caldwell said he understood the deputation were to meet the whole of the Fire brigade Committee and Superintendent Hugo. Mr. P. A. Vaile asked what necessity there was to import an expert from the South to advise on the matter. They had a man in charge of the Auckland Brigade, and, in courtesy to him, he should have been consulted. They had an expert from the South three years ago (Mr. Smith, of Christchurch), who told the Council everything they wanted to know, but nothing had been done. Mr. G. Aiekin thought there should be as little inquiry into the past as possible. They wanted really to ascertain what was to be done in the future. Mr. D. Ooldie said he thought outsiders bad no right to interfere with the Council in a. mat of that sort. If the Council thought it wise to have an expert here they were, justified in bringing that expert. He was pleased Mr. Hugo had come, because be had borne out what he (Mr. Goldie) had for a long time been contending for, viz., that it was wrong in principle to attach two or three leads of hose to one hydrant. That had been done in Auckland, and was done in Wellington before Mr. Hugo took charge (here. It they took one lead from one hydrant he believed the water would go #ve" the highest braiding in Auckland, while if (hey took two or three leads from, one hydrant the result was simply to diminish the power of the water. He was sorry that gentlemen sometimes made statements without having their facts verified. At a recent meeting it was stated that the pipes in Princes-street were only 6in, and in Darby-street and Fort-street 4in, while, as a matter of fact, they were Sin in Princesstreet, 6jn in Darby-street, and sin in Fortstreet. ' With regard to what the Council bad done they all knew that in January the Council sent Home for the best and latest telescope ladder to reach the highest building in Auckland. That was now on the water, and the 3000 ft of hose, ordered at the same lime, was now in Auckland. The Council had also borrowed £3000 for the equipment of a. fire brigade station. At the time the money was borrowed the Council contemplated using a site of their own in Wukefield-street. but. after conference with the chairman of the Fire Underwriters' Association and Mr. Russell, of the South British Insurance Company, they purchased for £2100 a, site in Pitt-street, which was considered an ideal site. That left only £900 of the borrowed money to equip the station. The Council was not able last session of Parliament to get through the Bill placing the cost of maintaining the fire brigade on the Government, the insurance companies, and the municipality, but in sprite of that they determined to go on with the work, in the hope of afterwards getting the Government and the insurance companies to help. The statement' had been made that it was no good urging that sort of thing, because the insurance companies would simply regulate their rates according to their risks. His reply to that was that the insurance companies regulated their rates to cover their risks, and also to make a large profit, and he wished to remind the representatives of insurance companies that at last meeting of the Municipal Conference in Wellington there was a very strong desire to start a municipal fire insurance, ami if the fire insurance companies would not pay their quoto to the maintenance of the brigades, municipal lire insurance would come, and they could depend upon it that if the municipalities took the risks, they would also take the rates. The Council was now prepared to spend £10,000 or £15.000 to give the city up-to-date appliances, trusting to get the Bill through this session, but even if the Bill did not go through (he work would be done. The Council to-dav was doing all it. possibly could as quickly as possible. Mr. Arthur Myers said the deputation had attended as business mm to ascertain what Mas being done. Mr. Goldie had told them that for the last, two years the City Council had been endeavouring to get a Bill through Parliament whereby the insurance companies and the Government would have to pay a proportion of the cost of the fire brigade. That was just what the deputation complained about, that while this had been going on no advance had been made, while the existing state of affairs was a disgrace to the city. It was not a question of finding the money. It would have been within the means of the City Council to have made great improvements without much delav. Mr. (Joldie had. he admitted, done excellent work tor the city. but. as business men they respectfully but firmly took exception to Mr. (.'oldie's policy on lire brigade matters. There were two classes of councillors progressives and standstills. The deputation was on the side of the progressives. In view of the growing requirements of the city, they believed the time had arrived when these requirements should be catered for ny the Council in a proper and up-to-date manner. To make the appliances equal to the requirements of the city, certain general principles should be followed. 1. There should be an up-to-date fire alarm system. Nothing had been done in that respect. 2. A steam fire engine should be procured, capable of throwing water to the top of the highest building in Auckland. He believed the majority of the present mains were adequate for all reasonable purposes, but others of them were, not adequate, and if was absolutely necessary to get a steam fire engine. The deputation expressed no opinion regarding what the capacity of the engine should be: that should be decided by the City Council. 3. Thr- establishment and equipment of a regularly organised fire department. The present department was not organised in any shape or form. They should hive a thoroughly up-to-date man, capable of organising the whole department, of making every man efficient in every detail, and of running the brigade on the same principles as characterised the greatest fire brigades in the old world. 4. A sufficiency of water. He understood there, was no possible chance of the. auxiliary supply being available before March next. That only showed the necessity of giving this matter immediate attention. They should not allow the thing to drift for another season or two. Probably with the help of a steam fire engine the

•water supply would be sufficient for all necessary requirements. 5. Proper building regulations, stringently carried out. The present regulations did not go far enough. 6. No delay should take place in awaiting the settlement of the proportion to be paid by the City Council, the Government, and the insurance companies. The insurance companies fixed their rates according to prevailing conditions. Fire insurance rates had been raised lately, and when policyholders complained the insurance companies referred to the great risks they were running, and pointed out that the whole of Queen-street might be burned down any night. There was no denying it. The question of adjustment should not debar the City Council from giving the matter immediate attention. 7. The Harbour Board, having ordered a fire tug and steam fire float, which would be ready in about six weeks or two months, why should the City Council not arrange with the Board, who would have fires banked all night, to have sufficient hose, or if necessary, even lay a main through Queen-street, to protect the enormous amount of valuable property there. Some of the largest warehouses were erected in that immediate vicinty, and there was no reason why advantage should not be taken of the water supply in the harbour to prevent serious loss taking place from a fire occurring near the jetties. They had often heard city councillors say, especially lately, that they could not do anything without money. That was perfectly true, but lie thought he was voicing the opinion of a large number, he might almost say the majority, of the people of the city, when he said that if the City Council brought forward a scheme that had the confidence of the people, they would be quite willing to support a loan to give the city an up-to-date fire brigade system, water supply, efficient sanitary arrangements, and anything else necessary*. Of course it must be a scheme that had the confidence of the people, aid the city must have an up-to-date engineer, in whom the people had confidence. Mr. Goldie said there was no difficulty about the water. The city had a superabundance of water to-day. It was only for about three months of the year that the city was short of water, therefore the auxiliary supply would not be needed till March. With regard to the building regulations a committee of the Council had been engaged for the last 12 or 18 months remodelling the whole of the city by-laws, including the building by-laws. These were now in the hands of the city solicitor. The members of the deputation did not know that, simply because they did not read the newspapers. If they would always take the same interest in city matters as they were doing now, they would know better what was going on. Mr. Robertson asked why it was, if the water supply was sufficient, that lifts were cut off only last week or the week before. Mr. Goldie said the dry season came later than usual this year, and the water at the Western Springs went down, but it was now rising at the rate of two inches per day. Mr. Myers said as water supply and sanitary matters embraced rather a comprehensive scheme, ho believed the ratepayers would mearwhile be quite willing to pay a special fire rate, sufficient to enable the City Council to provide up-to-date fire equipments.

Mr. Goldie said there was nob the slightest need for it. There would be sufficient money in hand. The revenue o: : : the Council to-day was £10,000 more than it was 2£ years"ago. Some of Mr. Myers' statements were splendid in theory, but would not workout iii practice. For instance, he wanted an engineer in whom the people had confidence, but in appointing an engineer they had to deal with a Council of 16 men, and the Council might not appoint a man whom Mr. Myers Avould accept. Some appointments were made while he was Mayor, and in his judgment the best men were not always appointed. Even if Mr. Myers had the* appointment himself the man he appointed might not be accepted by the public. Mr. Caldwell asked if "Superintendent Hugo would give some information as to the lire brigade system of South Australia, which he believed was really first-class. Mr Hugo said in South Australia they had a Board managing fire brigade matters, end the money was provided two-ninths by the municipal corporations, three-ninths by the Government, and four-ninths by the insurance companies. (Mr. Goldie : " Hear, hear.") The insurance companies made the same threats as they were now doing here, but up to three years ago their rates were so low that they were not paying office expenses. They raised the tales, but even the increased rates did not approach anything like the "New Zealand rates of to-day.

Mr. Kirker pointed out that the building in South Australia was mostly done in brick and stone, while in New Zealand it was mostly wood. Mr. Hugo proceeded to slate that in Adelaide and Port Adelaide the brigades were entirely composed of permanent men. Some smaller towns had auxiliary men, with perhaps one permanent man. He proceeded to give figures as to the decrease in fire losses in Adelaide, but his figures were questioned by Mr. Kirker, and Mr. Goldie questioned if the meeting was justified in asking Mr. Hugo to give them information which he should supply to the City Council. Mr. Myers agreed with Mr. Goldie in this point, and suggested that before separating, the meeting should pass a resolution urging the Council to decide on a policy before next month. The Chamber of Commerce could discuss that policy and decide whether it was satisfactory, or whether they should again approach the Council. The deputation came expecting an official report from the Council, and as they had not got that report he did not think they would do any good by extending the meeting. Mr. Goldie said they would hardly be justified in attaching blame to the Council for not having an official report since the Council had not got their report from .Air. Hugo. He thought they might adjourn for a fortnight or three weeks, when ail the information would be available. Mr. P. A. Aaile said lie i.ind?rstoxl the deputation would meet at any 'ate the Fire Brigades' Committee of the Council, and it seemed to him only typical of the interest taken in municipal affairs in Auckland that they had received all their information from an ex-Mayor, who. at present was in no way associated with the Council. Mr. Dignan : The Mayor is here. Mr. Vaile: Mr. Dignan can give us no information. Mr. Dignan: T can give you information. Mr. Vaile: Have you ordered Dial, a couple of horses should be in readiness in the Albert-street station, or are you sti'l dependent on played-out cab horses? Mr. Dignan said they had a make-shift, available. Mr. Vaile said they had to go to Pullan and Arm it age's and get any odd horse and any odd set.of harness. There was no special harness kept and no special horse, and they all knew what it. meant to lit odd harness on to an odd horse at night. This matter should be attended to at once. They might adjourn for a fortnight, but in the interval they might have another big fire. Then the fire.-esca.pe which had been ordered would be preticaUy useless on one side of Queen-street, on account of the telegraph wires, It was proposed to put the lire-escape at Fort Btitomart, but the proper place for it was at the central station in Pitt-street. They should also have three auxiliarly two wheeled escapes in different parts of the town. As to fire alarms, he understood the Council's proposal was to distribute something like 50 telephones throughout the city. He believed Superintendent Hugo would tell them that 40 or 50 telephones would not be much good in a city of the size of Auckland. Mr. Goldie pointed out that under the Municipal Corporations Act every house must be provided with a fire escape. Mr. Vaile ought to know that. An inspector had been appointed and was at work on that matter, so that, really the .additional fire escapes suggested by Mr. Vaile would not be needed. Mr. W. Thorne referred to the water supply question, stating that the Nihotupu water could easily be taken by gravitation to the Mount Eden reservoir instead of to Ponsonbv.

Mr. Goldie said the water was to be taken by gravitation to Khyber Pass, not. to Ponsonby. It would be. impossible to take the water by gravitation to Mount Eden, because the Mount Eden reservoir was higher than the reservoir at Titirangi. The pressure from Khyber Pass was quite good enough for all purposes in the city, and the water- which was drawn from Mount Eden reservoir amounted to only about 360,000 gallons weekly, and that quantity could he pumped in about 12 hour*. Mr. Thome said he had his information from Mr. Wilson ; the engineer for the water supply.

Mr. Goldie said Mr. Carlaw was the person \ to give the information with reference to the j distribution of the water in town, and he i clearly understood from Mr. Carlaw that the I water was to gravitate to Khyher Pass. j Some further discussion took place on this point, and eventually Mr. Goldie again put j his motion for an adjournment. ! Mr. Vaile said it would be a. mistake for J the deputation to leave without impressing on the Council the necessity for removing | the scandalous disgrace of the men of the brigade being used as beasts of burden. The ! city ought to hire or buy two special horses, j and two special sets of harness. j Mr. Dignan: Thank you; I will convey i that request to the committee in rather more j temperate language. I The meeting then adjourned. | At the close several members of the depu- j tation expressed dissatisfaction at the mem- ! bers of the Fire Brigades' Committee not attending the conference. ° I