THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 42, 8 November 1912, Page 1

THE FIRE BRIGADE.

" Full up of Humbugging." A Fairly Hot Letter. At Wednesday night's meoting of the Borough Council, the following letter, dated November 6th, was received from H. Thornton, honorary secretary of the Fukekohe Fire Brigade :—" On inspecting our gear we discovered that there is a 50ft. length of hose missing from the reel. We understand it was taken to try the pressure of the water and never returned. Are we to be treated with contempt, like a lot of ignorant children, and is our gear, which we are responsible to the Council for, to be pulled about and dirtied by anyone who thinks he has the authority to do so without the permission of the Brigade? Also, a number of different sized ends for the nozzles have , been removed without our permission. " Kindly put a stop to doings of i this sort as the Brigade are just • about full up of the humbugging to which we are subjected. "Last night we received a call by ' somebody who was kind enough to ' ring the bell and we were led to believe that the house of the late Mrs ' Moore was on fire, but when we l arrived it was only a bonfire behind i tho house. This was very mislead- . ing as wc could not see any fireworks and no rockets wore used. t I think you will agree with us 8 that this is very annoying, as ten of B our men arrived at the scene of the r supposed fire 20 minutes after the v alarm was given. We are therefore 1 entitled to the agreed amount, 2s 6d t per man as it is no joke pulling a o reel over a rough road that dis- s tance." At an earlier stage of the meeting - Cr. Pollock had suggested that an enquiry be made into the circumstances surrounding the false alarm. (Jr. TT.?7nlton said the Pipe Co. ■ had supplied 200 feet of hose and tho Illicit - only had the U9e of this l'-M'_'.l. I>v ho kii. I:. -• -if the f!oun;i-' I-' : '' '.<•- was „,a., ■■ m nr.y time .hi t_ •<■■ t- t .i Hfk-d ', to V;ke it. | As to tho .:■-■ ■••? r .v.. '• Mayor e:,. >u-, ;!, ■.< :hn.-._ ,'i.-i •■■■* '[ fit and w< n 'lm .. :\ There were some relinks the alarm giving good practice. It was finally agreed to inform the p brigade that whenever tho hose referred to was required for testing purposes the Council was entitled to take it. Nothing was done about the askedfor payment of 2s 6d for each man.