HOKITIKA FIRE BRIGADE

West Coast Times, Issue 10668, 23 December 1897, Page 4

HOKITIKA FIRE BRIGADE

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special general meeting of the Hokitika Fire Brigade was held at the Hall last evening, the Captain. Mr H. L. Michel, in the chair. There were abour 25 members present.

The roll was called by the Secretary, Mr J. Little.

The Captain said he had called the meeting for the purpose of discussing matters in connection with the late fire and also for the purpose of taking the advice of the Brigade on one or two matters. A difference of opinion existed as to whether the watchman should remain on the tower all tlie time as pro vided in the rule made in 1832 or whether he should, in accordance with the amended rule, be on duty on or about the tower. Whenjthe lule was made the police were on duty all night but for some time they went off duty at 2 o'clock in the morning aDd this caused a departure to be made in the rule.

Mr Wallace contended that the rule •'on or about the tower " meant that the watchman should not leave the premises. He moved that the rule be given effect to.

Mr G. Hsinz seconded and said he believed it would be much more effective if the watchman remained on the tower.

Mi F. M'Gregor dissented from this view. He was of opinion a fire would much more speedily be discovered if the watchman patrolled the street occasionally.

The Captain hoped the membeis would speak plainly on <"his and on other matters he would bring forward. Some of the ratepayers expressed themselves as surprised at the want of definite instructions in the matter.

Mr R. Ross jr., strongly supported the resolution, lie was convinced that if the watchman had been on tho tower on Saturday morning the alarm would have been given ten minutes sooner. The same .thing might be said of Hansen's fire.

Mr G. Davidson pointed out that if the watchman patrolled the front street the outlying portion of the town would be unwatched.

Lieut Braddcn supported the resolution that the watchman should not be allowed to leave the tower. If Mr M'Gregor's contention was Bound Mr Andrewea would have noticed the fire when he passed up Revell street past the Golden Age about 20 minutes previous to the alarm being given.

The motion was then put and carried without dissent.

The Captain next referred to the friction which had apparently arisen in the fire engine company, fle insisted that whatever difference of opinion existed there shouM be perfect unison when working. It was said the tank was tot filled.

Mr M'Corquindale explained he had to stop for a few minutes because there was no water in the tank. He had a full head of steam sufficient to make the engine go to her full speed. Under the circumstances he had said something in the heat of the moment which he was sorry for afterwards and which should mot have been taken notice of afterwards. He was pumping up the water all right but it was running out of the hose into the streets and flowing down the gutters.

Mr Wallace corroborated what Mr M'Corquindale had said about the faulty nature of the hose.

Lieut. Braddon thought a much greater quantity of water would have been obtained if the instruction to place a conical strainer instead of the present one had been put in.

Mr G. Heinz said a conical strainer would have made no difference. The corrosion of the stand pipe afc the bottom had prevented the flow.

Mr G. Davidson said the real trouble of the matter was that the fire engine company was a one man show. One man seemed to do everything and the others stood by and really had nothing to do. He contended that the tank had not a sufficiency of water and those standing near the engine were in danger of their life. He spoke with some knowledge as a professional engineer.

A somewhat heated discussion then ensued after which it was resolved that matters remain as they are.

The captain then referred to the necessity for procuring 1000 ft of hose. They had only procured 2000 ft in 20 years whilst in large towns like Christchurcb the average age of hose was 3 years. He intended arranging for this as authorised previously. It was also necessary to put a strainer m the steam pipe as suggested by Mr Ross. He moved that the Captain and Lieutenant be authorised to have this done.

Seconded by Mr S. Sherman.

Lieut. ißraddon supported the resolution but suggested one or two alterations.

The motion wus agreed to. The Captain said the next matter he wanted to bring under the notice of the Brigade was the necessity for the men wearing their helmets when on duty. They were woefully short of uniforms but until they got new ones they should wear the old helmets they had. He referred to one or two other matters in connection with the working of the brigade where he thought a more careful attention was desirable. A sub-committee was then appointed to revise the rules.

It was resolved that certain repairs and alterations be effected. Lieut. Braddon produced a stone which had been found in the North Revell street engine. . It was a flat stone about 3 inches by l£in by Jin. He urged the necessity for having strainers on the pipes of all the engines. Mr Wallace brought up the matter of fire buckets on the stands which were repeatedly taken away by people. Further discussion then eusued, the coll was called and the meeting terminated.