FIRE PREVENTION

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3555, 8 December 1934, Page 6

FIRE PREVENTION

TE AWAMUTU BOARD. QUARTERLY MEETING HELD. The quarterly meeting of the Te Awamutu Fire Board was held on Thursday evening, there being present Messrs C. G. Downes (chairman), H. C. Rainey, G. Nevill, H. Duncan and the secretary, Mr G. O. Jourdain. The superintendent, Mr B. F. Morris, was in attendance. Leave of afisence was granted to Mr D. McArthur, who was absent from To Awamutu. The Auditor General returned the Board's balance sheet for the year ended March 31st, 1934, duly certified. —The report, as printed, was adopted. Mr R. Girling-Butcher, Inspector of Fire Brigades, forwarded copies of the annual report- on the Dominion fire brigades.—Received. Mr Rainey reported having, with the superintendent and two firemen, attended the annual reunion promoted by the Te Aroha Fire Brigade a few weeks ago. Congratulations were accorded Fireman J. Dalton upon his success in securing the Fire Brigade Cup in the latest competition, and Foreman H. J. Irwin (holder of the cup) upon his close second in the same competition. Fireman C. A. Morris was also felicitated upon his recent entry in the ranks of benedicts. The- financial statement, as placed before the Board, was approved, and accounts passed for payment. It was mentioned that the superintendent expects the annual visit of the Dominion inspector during the next few weeks. The Underwriters' representatives both expressed keen appreciation of the chairman's remarks, and heartily reciprocated them, saying the association was indeed a happy one. The brigade was voted £ls towards the cost of representation at the Dominion conference and demonstration at Blenheim next February. The local members were granted authority to pass accounts for payment before the end of the financial year—March 31st —and the statutory annual meeting will be held early in April. Before the meeting terminated the chairman extended to Board members and staff the compliments of the season, including a happy and prosperous New Year, and in doing so he said his term of office had been a very pleasurable one. All the Board members had worked amicably together, and the happiest relations existed with the brigade. Ho hoped that satisfactory state of affairs .would long continue, for it was decidedly beneficial to the ratepayers and others the Board represents. He was happy to be able to indicate that the municipal water supply would be greatly improved in the next few days, and that in itself was a condition greatly to the benefit of the town. Mr Downes also asked the superintendent to convey the Board's hearty thanks and good wishes to the brigade The Press was also thanked for full and fair reports of the deliberations and upon its interest in fire prevention matters. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The superintendent, Mr B. F. Morris, presented his quarterly report as under: Two calls were received during the period, but neither was of a serious nature. The first was a false alarm with good intent to a shop in Alexandra Street on September 10th, and the second call was to a kiddies' bonfire on November 6th. The fire engine and equipment is in good order. I have taken delivery of 300 feet of Vanguard hose, 3 sets of couplings, and 1 benzine storm lantern. The usual practices have been held but these have not' been so well attended as previously owing to the fact that several members have been prevented from attending through stress of work and in one case through sickness. J. attach hereto on separate sheets particulars of the. attendances for practices and fire calls. On November 29th, at the request of the infant mistress of the Te Awamutu District School, I took the infant classes oh a short tour of inspection over the fire station, showing them the engine, gear and equipment, and explaining the purposes of these things. A test call for the station members was given on November 25th, at 2.45 a.m. The machine with a crew of four left the station in 42 seconds, and had the water on with pump in operation to a plug a quarter of a mile from the station in 2 mins 20 sees after the call was given. With 100 feet delivery and Jin nozzle the pump pressure was 115 lbs. The running pressure was 50 lbs. Fireman J. Becker resigned on September 11th, and Fireman C. Walker resigned on October 30th. Two new members, Mr J. McLeod (ex-fireman oi the Blenheim Brigade), and Mr L. Spence were enrolled as firemen in their stead. Fireman J. Horan is now resident on the station in lieu of Fireman C. A. Morris, who was married on November 21st. Tho annual bonfire and carnivah with procession, was held on November sth, and proved a great success, both socially and financially. On November 3rd the superintendent and three firemen, accompanied .by Mr H. C. Rainey, representing thts Board, attended the reunion of the Te Aroha Fire Brigade, it being the occasion of the official handing over of their new fire engine, a machine of the same design and model as the Te Awamutu engine. The quarterly competition of the Te Awamutu Fire Brigade Cup was held at the end of November, and resulted in a win for Fireman Dalton (1 min 34secs), with Foreman Irwin (1 min 35 1-5 sees) second. Several members are now in training for the New Zealand competitions to be held at Blenheim at the end of February, 1935, but lack of water is seriously handicapping them.