FIRE TELEGRAPHS IH DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1460, 8 November 1879, Page 23

FIRE TELEGRAPHS IH DUNEDIN.

The system of fire telegraphs which, with the assistance of the Telegraph Department, the Corporation intend introducing into this city, will be that known as "Automatic Fire Telegraphs."

As adapted to Dunedin, the working of the system will comprise a main or central fire telegraph station, which will, of course, be at the Fire Brigade Buildings, Octagon. Then, at probably four points of the city, there will be placed "automatic fire annunciators "" — to the south, at the Colonial Back or Government Buildings and at the Southern Market Reserve ; to the north, at Albany street police station and at Joel's Brewery ; and, if necessary, one can be placed also at the Maclaggan street policestation. Indeed, the system can be indefinitely extended, and probably all the higher levels of the city, if not the suburbs, Will be included in the system eventually ; all thst is required being the erection, at any given spot, of an annunciator, and its connection by wire with the rest of the system.

From a paper read in February, 1877, before the Society of Telegraph Engineers in London, by R. yon Fischer-Truenfeld, Esq., F.R.Gr.S., we make the following extracts explanatory of the working of the system : —

"The automatic fire annunciator is a very simple mechanical contrivance, introduced into the telegraph line, through which circulates a permanent current from a battery established at the central station. The annunciator, when brought into action, breaks the circuit, and thus sends a certain signal to the central station. The working of the system is simple, reliable, and intelligible to everyone. The annunciator is protected by a glass front, and is placed at street corners, in guard or railway stations, or in pillars situated in a prominent position, and where there is little likelihood of its being wilfully damaged. On the discovery of a fire all that has to be done is to run to the annunciator box, open or break the proteoting glass, and pull the handle. , The oontaot» wheel then rotates, and the latter, corresponding with the annunciator, ia transmitted several times in succession to the Fire Brigade station, whence orders are telegraphed to the various engine and police stations."

The expense of establishing the system in Dunedin, including everything, it is estimated will be under £200, while the- outlay yearly for maintenance will be trifling. Messrs Watt Bros., of this city, are at present engaged in the construction of the annunciators.