AUCKLAND FIRE BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147690, 8 September 1911, Page 7

AUCKLAND FIRE BOARD.

LAST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE. Tub report of the Auckland Fire Board for the year ended Juno 30 last has been issued. It states that the expenditure for the year amounted to £7407, or £5 ices than was estimated. The total amount of premiums returned by the fire insurance companies carrying on business within the Auckland fire district, as received during 1909, amounted to £40,451. The percentage cost to the insurance companies for the year was £8 18s 3d. The Board represented to the Auckland City Council the necessity for providing additional mains and a further extension of the water supply in various parts bf the city, at a cost, on the Council's estimate, of £18,500. Power to borrow having been granted to the Council for the purpose, 'it is anticipated that tho extensions will bo carried out shortly. Unavailing efforts had been made by the Board) to have the Fire Brigades Act, 1903, amended, so that underwriters not domiciled in the Dominion, but insuring property here, could be made oontributories under the Act. a turbine motor pump of large capacity was procured during the year, and the Board! intends purchasing a turn-table ladder to enable the brigade to cope with fires in the high buildings erected and being erected in the city. The whole of the plant and equipment is in first-class order and oondition. The superintendent of the brigade, Mr. C. A. Woolley, in an accompanying report, states the total calls to fires were 167, an increase of 35 on the previous year. Of these 83 were actual fires, 55 were false alarms, nine were chimney fires. 15 grass or rubbish fires, and five were outside the Fire Board"s jurisdiction. The alarms maliciously given increased from 29 to 55. Tho auxiliary staff of tho brigado has been increased by 11 men. No fire of any magnitude occurred during the year, but this immunity, he feared, could not continue with the frequent changes in the staff as at present. Three months is about the service of the men. It is impossible for men to become conversant with tho fire plugs, buildings, or quick manipulation of the appliances at a fire for efficient brigado work in this time.