DENNIS FIRE ENGINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10055, 17 February 1927, Page 2

DENNIS FIRE ENGINE.

DEMONSTRATION AT TEMUKA. 'GOOD | PIRES!&UIRE OP WATER OBTAIN ED, Yesterday Messrs H. H. Allen, and F. Brandit, representatives of the New Zealand Express Co. brought to Temuka, a Dennis 250 gallons Tamini turbine pump fire engine for demonstration purposes. The engine is the product of Dennis Bros., Guildford, England., and is a compact machine, developing 36 h.p. It is complete with hose boxes, electric light, search light, first aid outfit, suction hoses, and a telescopic ladder 30 feet in length extended, andi has seating accommodation for 10 or 12 men. In the morning the demonstration was commenced near the Catholic Churrih, Denmark Street, and there was a good gathering of the public present to witness it. Among the visitors was Superintendent C. Warner of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, and: those present ■included The Mayor of Temuka (Mr G. B. Cartwright), Councillors W. P, Evans, T. Gunnion, D, Mclnnes, A. H. Feun, A. W, Buzan, J. Lee, J. B. Sinclair, the Town Oil erk, Mr A. J. MacPhevson, Overseer, Mr G. Judson.'and Ex-i Captain G., Hancox, Captain J. Henry, .Lieutenant Allfrey, Foreman Wy Husband, and Firemen Ives and Chapman of the Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade. The hydrant was placed at the fire plug at the corner of Wilkin street andi the pressure gauge registered 2 31bs to the square inch, at the four inch main. On being cou.plI ed up to the engine a pressure of 68 arid Olbs was obtained with which a stream of water was played onto the roof of the churchy from the road, showing a decided improvement ■on the ordinary pressure, and when two leads were coupled to the hydrant the pressure was brought up,to 75 lbs and then to SO and 9Olbs with-which the water was thrown, over the gable of-the church from the road, a Him nozzle being used. Later two hydrants were iisedi on the same main and the normal pressure registered was from 26 to 291bs, With the pressure increased to 115, 120 and 125 lbs respectively, better results werp obtained and- the water was thrown from the road to withn. a few feet of the top of the church spire, which would he very satisfactory for dealing with a fire in a two storey fhuilding. Two hoses were then coupled up with 5-Bin. nozzles in place of the one !|in. and the result, was quite satisfactory for ordinary house firee. A move was then made to Guise street ' where the ‘pressure in the three inch main was from 32. to 34 lhs. ; per square inch, and working at SOlbs, pressure, sufficient water was available to easily cope with fires Up that vicinity. K. From here the machine was taken to the Taumataka creek, where the reinforced hose was let into the creek and the engine lifted the water 27 ft. at the rate .of a foot a second and with the pressure gauge at 1151 bs the brigade hose burst. With two leads on later the hose again burst. I In King street two leads were taken fom the Gin. main opposite the and the pressure was raised from 3Olbs to SOfbs and a good stream of water was thrown from the Sin. nozzle, and the first aid outfit with lin hose was used, and the telescopic ladder brought into action at the Crown Hotel. Taken right through, the machine demonstrated that it could do all that was claimed for it, and the pump was never used to its fullest capacity bfy ISOlbs pressure. With the present 'branches and nozzles the best results were not obtainable as a brirr, in the nozzle split the jet of water causing a spreading, hut with a more up-to-date branch the i/vater would lie pumped out in a Gelid jet and so be more effective in fire fighting.