DEVON STREET DELUGED

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 9

DEVON STREET DELUGED

WATER FROM HUATOKI STREAM.

PRACTICE BY FIRE BRIGADE. Easily-overtopping Collier’s high building in Devon Street central or, changing direction, drenching the street and the atmosphere for a distance Of over 65 yards from the nozzles, a hosing display by the New Plymouth Fir© Brigade attracted considerable attention last night. It was an incident in the monthly “wfet” practice of the brigade. The water was pumped by the powerful engine through th© 12-feet sump into the Huatoki Stream, opposite King’s Buildings. With, one lead, in action a pressure of 1451 b to the square inch was obtained, while with two operr.kng the pressure was 1001 b. This, said Superintendent A. Boon, was Very satisfactory. Jets of a somewhat larger type than usual were attached to the leads, one being liin. in diameter at the mouth and the. other 1 ,l-Bim So strong was the pressure that each no2zle required the services of four or five men, their strength being specially taxed when one or. other of the leads was cut off, thus turning the full force Of the water through one hose. The. twin- Streams were directed up Devon Street and reached a point well beyond . the Currie Street. intersection. The exteriors of passing motor-cars and trams were drenched by the, spray, but their occupants were untouched by the deluge. . There Was a motor-cyclist who was not so fortunate, however. .Unsuspectingly he set out from the kerb just as the valves. were being turned on. Fast as he went, the water went faster. He did .not .escape, unscathed..