FIRE PROTECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21649, 20 May 1932, Page 8

FIRE PROTECTION

GREEN ISLAND BOROUGH MODERN PLANT INSTALLED Gw:en Island advanced another stage in its history last night, when a modern firc-lighting plant and a volunteer brigade were installed. It was an important event in the history of the district, and several hundred residents were in attendance when the machine, with its crew, arrived in School street. t The fire protection system for the borough was brought about as the result of a satisfactory arrangement entered into between the Green Island Borough ■Council and the Dunedin Fire Board, whereby the council will pay the board the sum of £750 a year in return for adequate fire protection. A comfortable engine house has been erected in School street, at the rear of the Council Chambers. There is direct communication with the Central Fire Station in the city by means of an alarm box placed in the engine house and by four other street alarm boxes. A bell tower has also been erected and the bell will be rung when a fire breaks out, and the volunteer firemen will thus be called to duty. When an alarm of fire is sounded, the City Brigade will be notified by means of the direct alarm, and a machine and crew will be despatched to supplement the Green Island men. The machine allotted to the new fire service at Green Island is a powerful one and has done excellent service in the Dunedin Central Fire Station. The volunteer firemen, who reside within a short distance of the new station, were equipped with pew uniforms and the necessary gear at the Central Station in Castle street last evening, and accompanied the machine to Green Island. The superintendent of the City Brigade (Mr J. J. Salmon), and Senior Foreman J. V. Salmon (in charge of the South Dunedin sub-station), also travelled to Green Island on the machine. Mr J. Wilson (chairman) and members of the Fire Board were in attendance.

The volunteer brjgade consists of the following:—Foreman P, Jacobs (four years and three months with Dunedin City Brigade); Driver J. M'Kay (three years with City Brigade); Fireman V. Pringle (three years as auxiliary at South Dunedin sub-station); Fireman D. Rose (three years with old South. Dunedin Volunteer Brigade); and Fireman H. A. Ryan (three years with Mosgiel Volunteer Brigade). After the machine arrived at the new station the Mayor of Green Island (Mr W. T. Smellie) briefly addressed the members of the Fire Board and the residents present. He said the installing of the machine and the building of the station marked an important occasion in the history of Green Island. Negotiations had been entered into between the Borough Council and the Dunedin Fire Board for fire protection in the district, and the residents of Green Island would be pleased to know that the borough now had a fire brigade. On behalf of the council, he asked Mr Wilson to accept the key and open the doors of the new station.

Before performing this ceremony, Mr Wilson said the building of a station, the presence of a modern machine, and the forming of a brigade marked another milestone in the advancement made by Green Island. It was necessary for every borough to have adequate protection from lire, and the men who controlled the affairs of Green Island realised that it was necessary to provide protection for a borough which was expanding so quickly. It was hoped that the agreement entered into with the Dunedin Fire Board would be advantageous to the borough. It had given the board every satisfaction to know that the new brjgade would be able to travel to a fire very quickly. This would be possible on account of the tar-sealed roads. As the negotiations entered into between the council and the Fitoe Board had been successful in every way, it was hoped that everything would work smoothly between the council and the board.

Mr Wilson then opened the doors of the station, and, after the building had been inspected, a demonstration turn-out was given by the volunteer crew, under the direction of Superintent Salmon and Senior Foreman Salmon.

Later, Mr Wilson briefly addressed the five members of the volunteer brigade. He said the board and council were very fortunate in securing the sex-vices of men who had had fire brigade experience. It was' hoped that their service to Green Island would reflect credit on them and that the Fire Board would receive satisfactory reports from time to time. An adjournment was then made to the Council Chambers, where several toasts were honoured. The toast of the “ Dunedin Fire Board ” was proposed by the Mayor, who briefly outlined the negotiations which had been entered into between the board and the Borough Council, and which had been brought to a very succsesful conclusion. —The toast was replied to by Mr Wilson. The toast of “ The superintendent and the staff of the Dunedin Fire Brigade ” was proposed by Cr Logie, who referred to the high standard of efficiency attained by that institution throughout a long period of years. Replying, Superintendent Salmon said the , council had been given a splendid machine —a machine which had done very useful service in the city. It was gratifying to know that the volunteer brigade was composed of experienced firemen, two of whom had been attached to the staff of the City Brigade for several years. He had selected the men with every care, and had appointed Mr Jacobs foreman. He was a very reliable man for the position. The five men forming the new brigade were very reliable. Mr Wilson proposed the toast of “ The Mayor of Green Island.” —Replying, Mr Smellie said that Green Island was going ahead. Water, gas, and electricity services had been installed in the borough during recent years, and now they had adequate fire, protection. It was hoped to install a drainage system in the very near future. The rateable value of the borough a few years ago was about £16,000. To-day it was £33,000. A number of new houses had been built in the borough during recent months. The Borough Council was greatly indebted to the town clerk (Mr H. Burk), who had devoted a great deal of time to the successful negotiations which had been entered into between the Fire Board and the council. Mr Smellie referred to the excellent work carried out by the secretary of the Dunedin Fire Board (Mr J. T. Hamanii). Unfortunately Mr Hamanu was not able to be present that evening owing to illness, and the Mayor asked the chairman of the boai-d to convey tire best wishes of the Borough Council td the secretary. Other toasts honoured were: Underwriters’ Association,” proposed by Cr Tonkins and replied to by Messrs F. T. Anderson, S. B. Macdonald, and H. A. B. Brabant; “The Town Clerk of Green Island,” proposed by Mr W. A. Scott, and replied to by Mr H. Burk; “ The City Council and Government Representatives on the Dunedin Fire Board,” proposed by Mr H. Burk, and replied to by Messrs F. Wilkinson and J. L. Salmoiid; “The Green Island Borough Council,” proposed by Mr S. B. Macdonald, and replied to by members of the council; and “The Press ”