THE FIRE BRIGADES. CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10305, 12 March 1895, Page 2

THE FIRE BRIGADES. CONFERENCE.

\Pke United Pbbss Association.) Homtika, March 11. The delegates to the Fire Brigades' Confer" ence; who overland; reached here this morning,l having experienced a very rough trip across the ranges. Both; coaches were stuck up, and the occupants Of ono were forced to take shelter in the roadmen's hut on Friday night, being unable to' reach the hotel. The other coach was delayed 24- boura at the Bealey. Toe remainder of the delegates came down by the Wainui to the Greymouth bar do. Friday, and being unable to enter returned to Westport. They left there iv the Grafton at 8 this morning, and reached Greymouth to-nigh!> when they came on by special train. The nonarrival of the delegates caused a postponement of the conference until to-morrow morning, whea the business will be pushed on as rapidly as possible. The executive of the association held a meeting this afternoon and arranged preliminaries aad drew up the annual report. The visitor! are to be entertained at a public social to-morrow evening. Auckland, March 11. With reference to the Piejs Association telegram from Hokitika and tho Premier's statement, Superintendent Hughes stated to a press reporter that he did not believe Mr Seddon would have made Buch a statement unless he had some official report on the asylum fire on which to base his remarks. If there was such a report in existence, as seemed evident, then it ought to be published to know what it was. The fact was that the water had not been cut off from the asylum on the night of the fire. There was aa a matter of fact a greater prtssure at the asylum than was available at the Pitt street fire, which Mr Seddon called a small fire, but which was really very large. Mr Hugheß added that officially he had had no control over the pressure, at the asylum. As a city officer, paid by the city, his first duty lay iuthe city. Had he been on his way to tho asylum when the fire occurred in the city he would have had to return. As it was he scut all available assistance out to the asylum. Many months ago he had pointed out the inadequacy of the fire apparatus at the asylum auxiliary.