FIRE BOARD MATTERS

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 8

FIRE BOARD MATTERS

MONTHLY MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. Routine business was transacted at the monthly meeting of the Invercargill Fire Board yesterday. Mr. C. J. Broad (chairman) presided, and Messrs A. Bain, R. N. Todd, W. M. Stirling, E. B. Pilcher also attended. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter from the President of the Y.M.C.A. with reference to the exits at the Y.M.C.A. hall was read as follows: “I have your letter relative to the Y.M.C.A. building and beg to ask your Board to allow the use of the hall to continue as in the past for a further six months for the following reasons: — ‘The building was erected by public subscription but the activities of a Y.M.C.A. at present have ceased and the trustees proposed offering it for sale or lease but the National Committee of the Association, Wellington, desired us to delay until after their annual meeting (which has just taken place), as they would send a representative to Invercargill with the view of reviewing Association activities. He is expected to be here shortly. If desired we will undertake that no public entertainments shall take place in the building but in any case such as do take place rarely number more than 1000 persons and recently nothing but religious meetings has taken place, for which a small charge is made to cover lighting and cleaning. “The building is not a high one the only room of considerable size being on a comparatively olw’ floor with steps to the ground floor only a few feet below in which there are windows practically on the ground level, which Is equal to the fire escapes of many buildings; and thus considering the nature of the whole building, the means of exit are reasonably good and the risks are small. “The building has been very valuable to the communitv in providing cheap rooms for the meetings of sports clubs and religious bodies and will be greatly missed if closed this winter.” It was decided to hold the matter over for three months. A communication from the Hamilton Fire Board seeking the Invercargill Board’s views on the establishment of a fund for the payment df gratuities or pensions to retiring firemen (section 42 of “The Fire Brigades Act, 1926”) was referred to the executive to deal with. A letter was received from the Town Clerk in respect to the application for a public building license for the Popular Picture Palace and the Superintendent’s report on exits from that building—Decided to reply, insisting that the exits in question be attended to as recommended by the Superintendent. A request from the Winter Show and Carnival committee that the Brigade assist in the demonstrations by leading, with one of the engines, a motor procession, and by throwing the Fire Station open for inspection during carnival week, was granted. GENERAL. Mr. Todd moved that the following matters be referred to the Borough Council for consideration: — That the attention of the Borough Council be drawn to the water supply and mains which are considered inadequate in the following areas: — Tweed street; Jetty end; Gas works and dangerous goods area; Kerning’s mill and Wright Stephenson’s stores at Avenal. That the attention of the Council be drawn to the question of increasing the size of the water mains in the vicinity of the stores in Tweed, Annan and Ayr streets and recommend that the 6 inch main be extended from Ettrick street via Ayr street. In view of the closing down of the steam plant at the Power House and the Monowai current being used exclusively, the attention of the Borough Council be drawn to the necessity of providing suitable standby plant at the water-works. The board concurred with the suggestion. SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT. The superintendent (F. Simpson) reported that during the past month the batteries in use with the fire alarm system have been thoroughly overhauled, recharged, and tested. All fire alarm points had been under constant test and were in first class order. The usual drills and training had been carried out. —Report adopted.