Special Meeting of the City

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5642, 11 June 1886, Page 4

Special Meeting of the City

THE FIRB BRIGADE COMMITTEE, j ; Tfeo adjourned meeting of the City ! Soundl, to consider the Fire Brigade Com- ' mmee'a report, was held last night ; ; «r^»t— His Worship the Mayor, and ! Owttcillori Louhwon, Hocking, Manning, ] • Tait, Gray, «-rookd, Prudhoe, Vincent, ■ GriMted and B.>wman. I fcperintendent Turton, Fireman Hobbs, auvcTkwo other members of tho Fire Brigade, ' alsfc *«« present, and Mr Cunnington. J •Hia Worship apologised for the absence t . «f Councillor Kiver, who was Buffering from bronchitis. t j Coonoillor Louisson resumed the discus- j sion on tbe qnestion of the appointment of Mr Woolgar, as Engineer. He knew no- ; thing of that gontleman, but did know Mr i Fuller, who, he considered, shomld,a3 an old servant of the Council, have the prefer- j ence. He did not know if either of the • men waa competent to take charge of the electric fire alarm system. He would BU<"»est that the clause should be struck eqlt'or would coots — " Thst no jjermanent appointment of engineer Bhould be made at all until the Committee can bring up a distinct report with regard to the electrio fire alarm system.** The Town Clerk pointed out that there was already an amendment — "That Mr Fuller ha appointed in the place of Mr Woolgar." Councillor Manning asked that the testimonials of Mr Woolgar might be read. Councillor Louiseon thought that whatever Mr Woolgar's qualifications aa am engineer might be, it should be known that he understood the electric alarm system, t There waß no need that the management should be under the control of the Fire Brigade. Councillor Crooks asked if Mr Woolgar had been approved by Mr Croll. Hia Worship said that Mr Woolgar had declined to be examined by Mr Croll. Councillor Manning had felt that the Fire Brigade matters were not in a satisfactory condition. The Committee had • keen of the »tme opinion, and had endeavoured to secure greater efficiency. He had felt that bo long aa the alarm system was in the hands of two, there oonld be no security, and had urged that ' an m<iepend6nt person should have charge, i Ha had been induced to wait until the j change in the stations had been effected, j The Committee had been unanimous as to j the calling for applications for an j engineer, and this, he contended, j ' showed that each member of the Committee knew that Mr Fuller was not competent. The present meeting was somewhat premature, for had the Council waited a little longer, in all probability there would have been a great improvement. He quite conceded that old officers Bhould not be overlooked, but a thoroughly trained engineer was absolutely required. As to the alterations in the rules, none of a material character had been made. His Worship said the rules were not being dealt with. Councillor Manning continued: With regard to the duties of the engineer, they fca3 been dra*n up by the Chairman of the Oomw\ti^, with th« ».eaiatance of one of Vue Council's officials. The salary was not large, but was sufficient. He had preferred a single man, aa already tbfe number of .children at tbe station was sufficiently large. He did cot know Mr Woolgar, ezcera from his testimonials. . Councillor Gray asked if the members of tag Brigade present were to be allowed to offer opinions without being questioned. Bja Worship ruled that a Brigademan co.ujd not join in the discussion, but could answer the questions of any of the Conhoillors. Mr Fraser had driven one of the engines for nearly ten years, and it never broke aown but once, when the plunger of the pump brjke Councillor Tait endorsed all that Councillor Manning had said. Some seven months ago the question had been mooted by the L**e Mayor, but action was postponed till tbe Cheater street station was completed. Seven men had applied for the pott of engineer. Mr Fuller had applied, but he was not an engineer. Any man would have to learn the electric alarm system, *3 it was a new one. Mr Woolgar had been approv«d by him (Councillor Tait), subjpnt to Mr Croll's examination. If Mr Croll could only examine for a marine engineer someone else should examine Mr Woolgar. His Worship read a testimonial, which testified Mr Woolgar's thorough fitness to take charge of any kind of engines or machinery. Councillor Gray, considering the duties the competitors are called upon to undertake, thought that* engineers should not have been expected to respond. A competent engineer wonld be fully occupied with the inspection, Ac, of the fire alarm system. Councillor Hosting had said that Mr Meddm^B would teach Mr Woolgar, but this was one of Councillor Hosking's misstatements. The first thing to be decided was whether or not the engineer was to take oharge of the fire alarms. For all the ether duties Mr Fuller was fully competent. Counofllor Vincent thought the alarm system might have been fully tested hefore the Lichfield street station was abolished. The system was one not us«i in other places, at all events in New Zealand, and any new official would have to learn it. If Mr Fnller was proved to be competent he (Mr Vincent) would have no objection to his heing appointed. Until it was shown that the applicant was competent, he would not vote for his appointment. Councillor Grinsted thought that an electrician should be appointed. In answer to a question, Superintendent Turton said Mr Fuller aad been in charge of the engine for three years, and had been connected with the engines for 16 or 17 years. He» was thoroughly competent and experienced, sad knew something of the electric fire alarms. He (Mr Turton) had full confidence in Mr Fuller. Oouneillqr Tait valued men who had experience, and thought that men improved die longer they served. Mr Fuller was engineer enough for the work that had to •c done. The overhauling was done in Anderson's yard. The electric alarms should be in charge of a separate man. The speaker deprecated the egotism of the Chairman of the Committee, He could not help thinking that with another Chairman things would have been bntter. Councillor Bowman was sorry he could act support the Committee any further. The Superintendent and the Brigade generally were to a roan in favour of Mr Fuller. There was no necessity for a competent engineer to drive an engine* If anything went wrong the engine broke, and a competent engineer could not repair it. This could only be done at some large works. It would be a hardship and against common sense to pass by Mr iuUer. Councillor Hosking supported the report aa it Btood. Mr Woolgar had been recommended by the Committee provided he yassed the necessary examination to work a steam fire engine. Tho Committee had approved of the schedule of duties. These wTftld .not he any more than one man o;.ald de. It had been said that Mr Med<imgs had not promised to give instructions, but the Town Clerk would bear out the assertion that Mr Meddings had so promised, asking, however, for a man used to a file — a fitter. Councillor Gray asked when this took place. Councillor Hosking^ replied that it was waen the amalgamation of the stations -was going to take place, and also just r>:fore the report was drawn np. Superintendent Turton, in answer to a o-estion, said that it would take a clear eav to clean the brass work of the chemical engine, and the engineer would take nine or ten hours to clean each engine. One engineer could not clean souther's engine. Councillor Hosking, admitting that it wo-Tld take three days to clean the engines, <- :-r tended that there wonld bo ample time itt for the other works required. The •r-jinea were not taien out on the average — .- -to thsm cnee a wonk. The Fire Insnrr.- .-? Association vranted to have gas under

the engines, %ut he would ask the Association to take the entire charge, aud then they would see where the defeota were. If they declined to take the whole responsibility, they should not interfere with a part of it. Councillor Gray would like to move a further amendment. He wanted to see the fire alarm system struck out from the list of duties. His Worship ruled that this was out of order. Councillor Vincent looked upon it that a l Committee's report Bhould be considered very carefully, and agreed to if possible. | From all he had heard, however, he thought , it would be well to refer the clause back to , the Committee. Councillor Louisson would have to vote against both resolution and amendment. , He supported the suggestion of the last ; speaker. j Councillor Hosking was quite willing to re-consider the matter. [ Councillor Grinsted thought that it ' should be decided whether the charge of the alarm system was to be separated or not. Councillor Prudhoe could see no difference between the qualifications of Messrs Woolgar and Fuller, hut did not think the former was a fit and proper person to have charge of the fire engines. The amendment was put and carried. Councillor Loui3son moved— "That no appointment be made for the present, and that the Committee be requested to reconBider this question, with a rievr to bringing up a distinct report with regard to the electric fire alarm system." His Worship ruled this out of order. Councillor Gray moved—" That the conditions referring to the oharge of tho electric fire alarms be struck out from the ! , list of dutieß, and the system be placed in charge of a properly qualifit « person." His Worship ruled thi3 out of order. The clause, as amended, was then carried as a substantive resolntwn. Councillor Gray gave notice of hia resolution. The clause as to the appointment of the cook, Sec., w*a discussed briefly, and struck 1 out, on the motion of Councillor Hosking, seconded by Councillor Gray* The clause regulating salaries, &c, and referring to the rules, was next considered, ' and, after discussion, the rules were rei ferred back to the Committee for consultaj tion with the Brigade. I Councillor Hosking withdrew the'rest of j tbe report. | Councillor Hosking asked the Town j Clerk to explain how a letter from the Insurance Association, addressed to the Mayor, had come to him. The Town Clerk Btated the circumstances. Hi 9 Worship said that he might possibly have opened the letter without reading it, and, being called away, might have left it on the table. The Town Clerk might have then handed it to the Chairman of the Committee. Councillor Loui<Json thought that the Brigade Committee would get on better if there was less heard of the Chairman. It was rumoured that Councillor: Hosking rode on an engine, &c. Councillor Hosking denied that he interfered in any way with the internal working of tiie Fire Brigade. Superintendent Turton never saw Councillor Hosking ride on an engine or interfere with himself. He took the opportunity to say that he (Mr Turton) had never tampered with the fire alarms, aa had been insinuated. He could assure the Council that he would never submit te be dictated to by anyone. Councillor Hosking defended the right of the Committee to act without consulting the Council on every detail. Councillor Louisson was a more dictatorial chairman than he (Councillor Hosking) was. Superintendent Turton referred to • letter that had appeared in a newspaper. With regard to a delay of 25 minutes, this was in the alarm being given. As to stopping the Railway Brigade at late fires, he explained what he had done. He would like to see the Railway Brigade continued. He must say he had never done such a mean thing as tamper with the alarms. It would be money well spent to keep the horses for the Railway Brigade, even if they were not required for five years. He spoke in eulogistio terms ef the conduct of the Railway Brigade. Councillor Louisson would take aa opportunity to test the feeling of the Coun«il on the question of the Railway Brigade. Councillor Hosking read a statement showing the number of times the hand engine had been taken out between April 1884, and August, 188*. It had been taken out 81 limes and nsed 7 times. Superintendent Turton said the hand engine was not required for fire purposes now that there was a chemical engine. The hand engine would be of use for competitive practicec Foreman Hohbs aseared the Council that the sooner a hand engine was obtained the better for the efficiency of the Brigade. Mr Cow thought it absurd to have done away with the manual. Apart from competition, nothing was better for practising new members. Councillor Gray suggested that, in future, the Superintendent should call to ; his counsel three or four of the leading men of the Brigade before radical changes were made. The Council at 10 p.m. adjourned till Monday nest.