WAIROA FIRE BOARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18992, 17 April 1936, Page 9

WAIROA FIRE BOARD

ANNUAL MEETING Mil. HARKER CHAIRMAN (Herald Corfespondont.) The annual meeting of the Wairoa Fire Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. H. L. Harker, retiring chairman, J. W. F. Norrie, W. G- Hay and G. C. Fletcher. Mr. D. Byford, the brigade, superintendent, and the cleric, Mr. 11. 11. O'Lbughlen. were also in attendance.

On the motion of Mr. Norrie, seconded by Mr. Hay, Mr. H. L. Harker was re-elected chairman. The last-mentioned briefly returned thanks.

The chairman, in his report, stated: "The insurance companies' returns of premiums received for insurance within the Wairoa. lire district for the year ended December 31, 1931. totalled £3078 Is sd. The estimates of expenditure for the year were approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs. The total estimates, £OO4, were contributed as follows: N.Z. Government, £lO 10s; Wairoa. Borough Council, £3ll 15s; insurance companies, £3ll 15s. Plant is all in first-class order, I lie only new gear purchased being six helmets and axes, one variable nozzle and six sets of couplings. Four of the younger members of the brigade attended the demonstration at Hastings, and although unsuccessful gained valuable experience. The Borough Council lias let a. contract for Ihe erection of an additional service reservoir and settling tank of 350,000 gallons capacity each, to be completed by Hie middle of next November. The storage capacity will I hen be 1.150,000 gallons. The average water pressure is 1201 b to the square inch, against a. minimum requirement of approximately Soil, fo the square inch. This iw very satisfactory. 1 desire to express my appreciation of the work and behavour of the brigade, particularly the superintendent, the secretary, to convey my thanks to the police for their co-operation when required, and to the press and also to the members for their unfailing courtesy at all times to the chair. The report was .adopted, after which the superintendent, Mr. Byford, submitted his quarterly report, stating: lwo calls were received during the quarter. Six practices have been held during the quarter and these include pumping from tii<! river when opportunity occurred. 1 would like to recommend that the lower part of the plastered walls of the engine and meeting! rooms of the station be painted a. battle grey; further, 1 would like the board to place on the estimates sufficient to cover the cost of six new uniforms and three of the latest smoke helmets."

The, superintendent's animal report stated:—"The number of calls received during the vear were eight, as compared with six for the previous year, these were as follows: Dwellings, three, bakehouse one. workshop one, chimney fire one, theatre one, and false alarm one. Insurance on property on which fires occurred totalled: Buildings, £2500; contents, £1256. The estimated loss oi property covered by insurance was: Buildings, £478; contents, £2Ol Bs. The estimated value of property, not covered by insurance was: Buildings, C 815; contents. £2BO. The estimated loss of property not covered by insurance was: Buildings, £5; contents, £BO. I wish-to thank the chairman and members of the board for their wholehearted support and their warm appreciation of my services during the year. Thanks are. also due to the members of the brigade, for their support when called upon, to the police, telephone exchange staff and the borough turncock for their co-operation with me in my work." Both reports were adopted.

Accounts totalling £233 14s 7d were passed for payment. It, was decided that the requests made by the. superintendent would be embodied in tiie estimates.

The estimates for the year 1936-37 were dealt with, the debit from last year to bo carried forward being only £1 7s 6d. The chairman said the. situation, especially in regard to dealing with the bank, was satisfactory.

Mr. Norrie paid a high tribute to the superintendent, who, lie said, had rendered valuable service, and he moved that 'his salary be raised to £7B per annum. The chairman agreed that they had a very conscientious superintendent. The hoard had only a small revenue or it would do more to mark his fine services.—The motion was carried, after which Mr. Byford briefly returned thanks, stating that he had not looked for this recognition.

Mr. Norrie claimed that a reduction should bo made in the charge for current for the station, but the chairman said the Power Board was not at all likely to agree to this, in the interests of the ratepayers.

• It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Norrie, to apply to the PostmasterGeneral to have the Fire Board's telephones put on the private instead of the business rates.

Mr. Norrie - said they had a very good secretary, and if the board had a larger income they would know what to pay with. He moved that the'salary should be raised to £4O per annum, which was supported by the chairman and carried. The clerk briefly returned thanks.

The estimates for the. current year were passed, totalling £661. against £664 last year, a reduction of £3 after having restored all cuts.

A settler present- at the meeting drew attention to the fire danger by birds getting under iron roofing, and suggested that steps should be taken to secure the nailing of every corrugation at the lower pnrline. Messrs. Norrie and Hay endorsed this and said Hastings was taking some, action. A recommendation is to be. forwarded to the Borough Council to send a remit to the municipal conference.

The superintendent mentioned the need for providing to exclude' the public from close access to hoses in action at fires. The Borough Council is to be advised ol the point.