FIRE FIGHTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 510, 28 September 1915, Page 8

FIRE FIGHTING.

RICCARTON'S POSITION. CO-OPERATION WITH FENDALTON & SPREYDON SUGGESTED. The question of a fire prevention system for Riccarton was briefly discussed at last night's meeting of the Riccarton Rorough Council, the subject gaining a somewhat added interest from the fact that Riccarton, in respect to fire fighting facilities, is in the same position as Fendalton, where a fatal fire occurred last week.

The Fire Prevention Committee recommended that owing to the enormous increase in the cost of material owing to the war, the committee considered it inadvisable to proceed further with the high pressure water supply of the borough. Cr Ford said the committee had had several meetings during the past two months, and had gone carefully into the matter. They had concluded that a high pressure system with hydrants was preferable to a steam plant. There was abundant water in some places in the borough, and none in others. The estimates obtained for the reticulation showed an enormously increased cost at the present time. The committee felt that until the cost of material came down the work should not be gone on with. Cr Steele wanted more detail regarding the matter, urging that the reticulation was required. There were any amount of wells in the district that had gone dry, or were going dry. They simply had a statement that the cost would be too high, and the matter should be shelved in the meantime. It might mean anything. The war might go on for four or five years. He would like some more information. Cr Ford: A normal estimate before the war for the reticulation was £IO,OOO. Now it would cost £25,000 or £30,000. You could not get some of the material at all.

The report was adopted. A little later Cr Dalley asked if the Fire Brigade would go out to Riccarton if a guarantee were given. Cr Munnings: They will not take a guarantee. Cr Dalley: What is the reason?

Cr Munnings: Their plant is not sufficient for them to come out here and look after the city, too. Cr Ford: If we had the old system they would come here. Cr Wise: When the Fire Brigade cost £ISOO they went everywhere; now it costs £6OOO they must not go outside the boundaries.

Cr Dalley; It seems to me that Spreydon, Fendalton, and Riccarton might have a lire system of their own. I think the fire at Fendalton the other night is enough to shame any brigade or any body of men.