FIRE BRIGADES.

Otago Witness, Issue 988, 5 November 1870, Page 11

FIRE BRIGADES.

. An Aot to give certain powers to Fire Brigades and others for the saving of property from destruction by fire. "" : . ; Be it enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows :—: —

1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Fire Inspectors Act 1870." 2.. The Superintendent of any Province or the Chairman of the County Council of Westland may from time to time appoint for any town within the Province of whioh he, is 4 Superintendent or within the County of Westland not being a borough constituted under " The Municipal Corporations Act 1867" one or more persons in such town as' he 'shall from time to time think 'fit to be called a Fire Inspector or Fire Inspectors for such town. , 3.1 Every such appointment shall be in writing and shall ;be, published in. the Gazette of the Province or County as the case may be and every Buch appointment may be revoked by the Superintendent or Chairman for the time being if he think fit. . 4., If any town shall be constituted a borough under " The Municipal Corporations Act 1867" every such appointment of a . Fire Inspector shall determine immediately upon the election of a Mayor of such borough. 6. On the occasion of any fire affecting or threatening to affect any building 'within Buch town the Fire In-| spector or any one of the Fire' Inspectors appointed for. such town who may be present may in Ms discretion take command of any Volunteer Fire Brigade or other persons who place their services at his disposal and may remove or order any fireman 1 to remove any persons; who interfere by their presence with the | operations of the Fire Brigade or other persons engaged in preventing the spread of fire' and generally he, may take any measures that appear expedient for the protection of life and' property with powers by himself or by any fireman to break into or through or take possession of or pull down any premises for the purpose of putting an end to a fire doing as little damage as po-sible. He may also on any such occasion interfere with the water Bupply of any, distriot in order to give, a greater supply x and ' pressure of water in the district in which the fire has occurred and no Water Company shall be liable to any penalty, or claim by reason of any interruption of the supply of water occasioned only by compliance with the provisions of this Act.- • <•* n .: ■ . • I '6. AU police constable* shall be authored to aid the Fire ; Inspector jn tfce

execution of hia duty j" TBeyfinay "cloae any street in or near^hich^.^ny fire is burning and they may of their own motion ;cr on the request " of ' tfie" Fire Inspector remove any persons who interfere by their presence with the .operations of the firemen.

7. ! All damage occasioned by any Fire Inspector or any Fire Brigade or members .thereof or any other persons acting under the orders of any Fire Inspector in the due execution of their duties under this Act shall' be deemed to be damagedby fire within the meaning of any pplicy ' • of insurance against fire. , -