AUCKLAND NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), 20 December 1907, Page 4

AUCKLAND NOTES.

[From Ouk Corbesfondint.] AUCKLAND, December 17., So far as the Auckland public buildiugs are concerned, it appears that while they are equipped with plenty of hoses and other fire extinguishing appliances, these could be very much improved and better means could be established for communicating with the fire brigade in the event of an outbreak. /That, at any rate, is the opinion or Superintendent Woolley, of, the Auckland City Fire Brigade, who, in conversation with a " Herald " representative, stated that so far as he knew the Government Buildings here were only supplied with two inch hoses^ with half-inch nozzles, buckets of water and fire extinguishers here and there. "To all intents and purposes," said Superintendent Woolley, "these hc6es are of very little use in the event of a serious outbreak. They are, so to speak, only squirts, which are good^ for nothing else than subduing an incipient outbreak. What I suggest is that In all Government buildings, or all big buildings for that matter, three-inch rising mains passing through each floor should be provided, and that on each floor there s"hould be a t valve, •with . a 25-mch hose, ari inch nozzle attached, capable of reaching any part o-f the building. The advantage of this, is that it would give you the full capacity of the main the same as the firemen have' in the street, whereas with a two-inch hose, with a. half-inch nozzle, you can only get a quarter of the supply, which, in ;he cae of a serious fire, is almost useless." Mr W. J. Napier has given notice to move as follows at the next meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board : — " (1) That the Board in t committee co/i sider the advisability ' of using the powers vested in it by section 11 of the Auckland Harbour. Board Empowering Act, 1899, to establish a depot for the storage of coal for the use of his Majesty's Navy : (2) that the Board in committee consider and report upon the desirability of lengthening the-Cnlliope Dock, with, tne view of being able to afford dock accommodation for the larger type of naval and mercantile vessels now being built." •