THE PARNELL FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 14

THE PARNELL FIRE.

Sir,—lt is high time the essentials were looked after in this go-ahead city. To be a fireman is a great thing, but when he cannot do his part owing to shortage of water, or shortage of equipment, he must feel very down-hearted. There are thousands of pounds waiting to be fepent on gardens in the Domain, and yet there is not an adequate water supply in this fine city, which to my mind is a disgrace. I well remember the fire in Parnell, where hundreds of beautiful horses were burned to death; that is about 13 years ago; .and I doubt if the water supply is any better than then. Many of these lovely animals could have been saved if all had been right. A Loyal Citizen.

Sir, —Auckland escaped by a very narrow margin one of those catastrophes that every now and then stir the community to its very depths. If it had culminated in a holocaust, the like of which New Zealand has hot had since s the Octagon fire in Dunedin 40 years ago, the Auckland City Council would have had to bear the blame. Some two years ago the council's attention was drawn to the danger .that existed, and still •exists, in these streets served by 4tn. water mains; more particularly those that have what is known as a blind end. The city engineer prepared a report, which was presented to the council, and there the matter ended, I live in a street served by one of these conduits and if ever a fire occurs in this street, it is safe to say the water from a fire hydrant will not rise over the fence. Many of the houses are two-storeyed, and if any person happens to be using the water in the lower storey no water can be drawn in the upper one. Should the hot water service be used for a bath it takes about twenty minutes for the water to trickle into the reserve tank under the roof. While the council has been spending thousands of pounds on the amenities nothing has been done to facilitate the prevention of a catastrophe, as will most assuredly Occur if present conditions continue. .. . Mercatob.