PROTECTION FROM FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 14

PROTECTION FROM FIRE.

CHANGE AT ONE TREE HILL. RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEERS. ' w . The control of the One Tree Hill district by the Auckland Fire Board is delayed pending the granting of the necessary authority from Wellington. As One Tree Hill does not come within the board's area, it is necessary to obtain permission from the Minister before money can be spent on additions and alterations.

An up-to-date alarm system will be installed in the district as soon as permission is granted. One Tree Hill will colne under the protection of the Reinuera fire brigade, at which station two extra men will be employed, and the alarm switchboard altered to take in the new area The new arrangement will cost the One Tree Hill Road Board £550 a year. Under the present conditions the maintenance of the volunteer brigado costs £250 a year, but the rapid increase in population and building in the district would in any case necessitate the appointment of a permanent man in the near future, at an additional cost of #250. The One Tree Hill volunteer fire brigade was founded 16 years ago, and was originally stationed in a wooden building at the coiner of Green Lane and Great South Road. Modern apparatus in the form of a light motor fire engine replaced the two hand-reels with which the brigado was originally equipped in 1921, and the present brick building was occupied in 1925. The largest fire attended by the brigade was the destruction of the Harp of Erin Hotel last year. Including the captain, Mr. i\ H. Hollingsworth, and the foreman, Mr. J. Gray, six of the present members were with the brigade when it was founded. Hold medals are to be presented by the One Tree Kill Road Board-to the members of the brigade when it is disbanded.