HAMILTON FIRE APPLIANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14888, 13 January 1912, Page 5

HAMILTON FIRE APPLIANCES

TOTALLY INADEQUATE.

At the request of the Borough Council Inspector T. F. Hugo reported on the water supply and fire brigade last evening. He generally condemned the present arrangements for fire-fighting, and said the present water supply and fire appliances were totally inadequate to cope with any serious outbreak of fire in the town. The following are his recommendations: — \ "Water supply: There should be provided in Victoria-street a lOin main having a flow of 7500 gallons per minute, at art initial pressure in that street of not less j than 801b to the square inch. A 9in main should be carried across the bridge into j Hamilton East., the reticulating . pipes! ranging from 6in down to not less than; 4in, and laid so that there shall be complete circuits in all. cases. There is no difficulty in obtaining the volume of water required, and to obtain the necessary- pressure three methods are open, stated; in the order of efficacy as follows;—(1) By constructing a reseivoir fed by gravitation at a sufficient height to give the ' necessary pressure. (I understand there is no locality suitable for this purpose within some l 20 miles or more from the town.) (2) Utilising the present, »or an enlarged reservoir located at the present 'site, and on an outbreak of fire by pumping direct into the mains, by means of pumps having '. sufficient power and capacity to supply the I required volume and pressure. ;To carry out this work in an efficient manner it would be necessary that the pump engines; should be connected with the town gas supply, with a competent person always at hand, who would on receipt of a telephone' message from the fire station (a direct wire being installed for the purpose) at once get the pumps to work, shutting off the valve in the rising main leading to the reservoir immediately the pumps have got up an equal head, the brigade in the meantime working from the reservoir supply. (3) By increasing the holding capacity of the present reservoir, improving the reticulation according to the preceding recommendation, and providing the brigade with a motor fire en : gine fitted with , a fire pump, having a capacity of, «ay, 400 gallons per minute, to provide a satisfactory supply of water. For this pump it would bo expedient in the more risky part of the town to instil a certain number of pillar hydrants having an outlet of sufficient size to couple direct to the pump suction fire stations. The proposed site in Garden Place for the new central fire station is a very suitable one. This station should include an enginehouse, say, about 28ft by 38ft, watchroom, office, recreation room, one set of married quarters, sleeping accommodation -for six firemen, and kitchen. If it is decided to use horses for traction purposes a couple of loose-boxes at the rear of the enginehouse will be required. A tower iB necessary for the bell, hose-drying, etc. The proposed site for the sub-station in the neighbourhood of the junction of Victoria, Ulster, and Liverpool Streets ,is a very good one. That proposed for the substation in Hamilton aft the corner of Wellington and HtJnphy Streets is a fairly suitable one. The corner of Firth and Cook Streets would be better." After dealing with other *matters regarding equipment, etc., Inspector Hugo concludes : "Hamilton, as yet being a , town not far beyond its embryo stage, but with every indication of - becoming a large centre in the near future, I would respectfully suggest to your Council that now is the proper time to take precautions for the future safety of what is likely to become the business portion." The matter was referred to the special committee for its consideration. '