South Taranaki News

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1926, Page 2

South Taranaki News

(From Our Own Reporter.)

Telephone No. 596.

P.O. Box 133.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THE QUARTERLY DINNER. TELEPHONE DISABILITIES. The quarterly meeting of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce held last evening, took the form of a dinner in the Carlton. Present were: Messrs. E. Dixon (chairman), B. C. Bennett, W. G. Walkley, B. McCarthy, F. W. Horner, R. S. Sage, E. C. Fletcher, H. G. Dickie, M.P., J. C, Smith, J. A. Dalgetty, G. H. Buckeridge, W. G. Woollett. L. A. Bone, W. B. Sprackett, and E. P. Beauchamp. The chairman said nothing further had ben heard of the proposed visit of the secretary of the New Zealand Underwriters’ Association, and a deputation consiting of Messis. Dixon. Horner, Bone and Cameron, was appointed to wait on Mr. R. Skeet, secretary of the Auckland Underwriters’ Association, who is at present in Hawera. Referring to the trouble with distance telephone ealls recently, Mr. Bennett said that as a result of the chamber's representations the department had sent their special engineer to Hawera and he had been working on the matter for six weeks. Mr. Bennett said there had been a considerable improvement a-e a result. The whole trouble was on account of the power lines in Taranaki, and the engineer, Mr. McDermott, had said that telephonic communication would never be so good as in other parts of New Zealand for tills reason. Mr, .Walkley said that the engineer had discovered one of the most fruitful causes of the trouble to be the settling of salt on the insulators in the Opunake district, thus causing induction. There had been great improvement of late. It was decided to write to the postmaster expressing appreciation of the improvement achieved. A lengthy report on the conference ot the Associated Chambers of Commerce in Wellington was read by Mr. Horner, and a vote of thanks was accorded him. Mr. Buckeridge referred to the deputation from the Technical High School which had waited on the Farmers’ Union for their support in having agriculture retained and dairy science included as a separate subject in the matriculation syllabus, and he thought the chamber should support what was being done by the school board, the union, and the Federation of Factories. Mr. Sage also addressed the meeting on the same lines as at the Farmers’ Union meeting reported in Wednesday’s News and asked for Mr. Diekie’s assistance. It was resolved to support the school board in their action to have agriculture and dairy science made separate subjects in the matriculation syllabus. PROTECTION FROM FIRE. MEETING OF THE BOARD. The quarterly meeting of the Hawera Fire Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. L. A. Bone (chairman), G. Dancan, J. G. Bayley, E. K. Cameron, and H. E. Elliott (secretary). The superintendent reported as follows on the the working of the brigade and matters in connection therewith from September 7 to date: —The brigade responded to six ealls. One was an actual fire on a property, two were chimney fires, three were false alarms, two of’the latter being malicious. An irresponsible youth gave one false alarm and the occurrence is not likely to be repeated. The present strength of the brigade is 19, including officers and men. During the regular practice on September 22, Fireman H. Hearn received an injury to his foot. He received medical attention, and after ten days’ rest was able to resume his regular occupation. The discipline and conduct of all ranks, and the manner in which their several duties are carried out are all that can be desired. - The direct alarm from the public hospital is tested daily and the duplex street fire alarm fortnightly, and both systems are in first-class working order. Six sets of block couplings have arrived in good order. These couplings are now connected to the 000 feet of V.C'.R. unlined eanvas hose. The tyres on the motor are not satisfactory and an endeavour is being made to have them replaced. Both moters are in good running order and the equipment is in a thoroughly satisfactory condition. On November 23 Captain T. T. Hugo inspected the brigade, all members being present on that occasion. Periodically at the Hawera public school fire drill is carried out in a smart and efficient manner. Mr. Evans, electrical engineer, has inspected the plant in the tower and has effected minor repairs. For the Taranaki District United Fire Brigades’ Association demonstration to be held in Stratford early in the new year, the following team has be en chosen to represent the Hawera brigale: Deputy-superintendent P. Grace, Firemen J. Zinsli, E. Hart, J. Kelsen, L. □lurch and R. Seagar. On behalf of the brigade 1 make application for the half-year subsidy of £lB 9s for watchroom duty, boot money and fire pay. The ehairman thought that fire drill should be carried otit at the Hawera High School, the Convent School and the Tawhiti School. He also stated that the brigade had acquitted themselves very creditably both at the last competitions in Albion Street and at the inspection by Inspector Hugo. The report was received.

VISIT OF INSPECTOR HUGO. In regard to serving the new public hospital in case of tire, as a result ot the deputation waiting on the county council, the Hawera Hospital Board ana the county council wrote agreeing to the Fire Board’s proposal, the hospital board stating that it was prepared to pay £2 10s per annum for the protection of the hospital. The board decided to draw up an agreement . covering, the matter and securing the signatures of the parties concerned, the agreement to be for a period of two years. Inspector T. T. Hugo, reporting on his visit of inspection during November, said at the inspection muster the full brigade was in attendance. The required inflection drills had been carried out in a very efficient and workmanlike

manner, and the station, plant and appliances were all in good order. The alterations in the reticulation and the provision of the sump at the corner of High and Albion Streets, thus enabling the use of the water from the public baths in case of necessity, was a decided improvement in the water supply tor fire purposes. He again brought under the notice of the board the advisability of forming a fire police corps for service in Hawera. The chairman said several members of the board had spoken with Inspector Hugo, who had said that in every town of any size there should be fire police. The chairman thought the matter should be referred to the local members and a report be brought down at the next quarterly meeting of the board. This was eventually agreed on. EXTENDING FIRE PROTECTION. The matter of extending the fire protection area to include the residences in the South Road, extending from the railway line to the Main School, was again brought up, but the chairman stated that the county had refused to pay the £75 per year incidental to the extension, their reason being that the cost would have to be borne by the whole county and only a small section would benefit. “I think we should try to bring the county to a decision,” said the cairmaii after a round table discussion. Mr. Bayley said the matter should be brought more before the public in order to get tile residents of that area to move in the matter. Mr. Duncan said there were about 170 houses affected, and in the event of the area being extended he thought the saving to each house would be £l. ‘We really thought there would be no trouble,” said the chairman when Mr. Duncan pointed out how small a sum was involved. Mr. Dunean thought, the county was quite right in its stand, but he thought tiie residents of the area, who stood to eave £1 per year, should be able to give l(te each io make up the £75 required. The example of other fire board’s In absolutely refusing to serve areas outside their district, for instance the Onehunga Fire Board, was cited and the board discussed the question of refusing to serve this area in the event of a fire. In this connection the probability of the fire board being liable for any damage the brigade might cause in the event of serving a fire in this outside area, was referred to and it was pointed out that the board might not be protected in such an event. The matter was then dropped.