FIRE FIGHTING

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8449, 6 April 1933, Page 2

FIRE FIGHTING

ANNUAL MEETING OF WAIHI BOARD WORK OF THE BRIGADE LACK OP PRACTICE FACILITIES The annual meeting of the Walhi Fire Board was held on Tuesday evening, the chairman, Mr W. Ellerington (Government representative), presiding. There were alsd present: Messrs J. J. Callaghan and J. P. Robertson, borough members, H. V. Tregear and W. Skegg, Auckland members, and I. T. Fallwell, secretary. The brigade superintendent, Mr WE. Roberts, was in attendance. Before the business was commenced the chairman extended to Mr Skegg the sympathy of the board, the brigade and himself in the recent sad loss of his daughter in a motoring accident. Those present stood in silence.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT “During the year we had 20 calls, namely, seven actual fires, seven scrub fires, five false alarms and one motor truck,” stated the superintendent in his annual report. “Insurances were as follows: Buildings, £llsO (damage, £770); furniture, £450 (damage, £360); stock (drapery), £I7OO (damage, £361); motor truck, £IOO (damage, £2O). The brigade received three resignations during the year for various reasons. Two new members have been elected, the brigade now being 15 strong. The usual weekly shed and street practices have been carried out, and the attendances at both fires and practices have been satisfactory. I regret to say that the Waihi brigadewill not be al/.e to compete at the Auckland district demonstration to be held at Te Aroha at Easter, owing to the water mains and plug having been taken out of the Recreation Ground, leaving the brigade without a suitable ground on which to train. We intend sending a delegate to Te Aroha and one to the New Zealand conference to be held in Wellington. In conclusion, I desire to state that everything is going on quite satisafctorily.” The report was received and regret was expressed that the removal of the mains and plug from the Recreation Ground had prevented the brigade from being able to obtain the necessary practice to enable it to compete at Te Aroha. • It was decided to write asking the in-coming Borough Council to consider placing on the estimates for the coming year a sum for the purpose of replacing the necessary facilities.

REQUEST FOR ALARM BOX An application having been received from Mr J. B. Weedon, of the Rob Roy Hotel, to have a fire-alarm box placed at the corner of Seddon Street and Rosemont road, discussion took place on the advisability of removing the box from outside the Commercial Hotel further down the street, as the Rob Roy corner was considered to be more central. It was stated, however, that the lower end of the town was badly served and a suggestion was made that another box be installed at the Rosemont road corner. On the motion of Mr Robertson, seconded by Mr Skegg, the matter was left in the hands of the chairman, with power to act. COMMITTEE’S REPORT Reporting for the local committee, the chairman said that accounts amounting to £ISI 13s yere paid during the quarter and the usual supplies required had been ordered from time to time. The board’s accounts had been inspected by the Government auditor last month and j the balance-sheet for the period ending on the 31st March, 1932, would be presented by the secretary for perusal. The report was confirmed. NEW HOSE AND GEAR

On the motion of Mr Robertson, seconded by Mr Skegg, the chairman and superintendent were asked to inspect the hose and couplings and were authorised to spend up to £45 on replacements and new gear, this sum iiaving been carried forward from last year, when it was set aside for the same purpose. GRANTS FOR DELEGATES The sum of £l3 Is—£l2 to send a delegate to the fire brigades’ conference at Wellington on the 241,h iust., and £l Is to lielp defray the expenses of sending a fireman to the Te Aroha event —was voted the brigade on the motion of Mr Callaghan, seconded by Mr Robertson.

Mr Skegg said he thought the idea of the Wellington conference was for brigadesmen to try to regain some of the concessions which the Government had removed. He was not, however, very sanguine of any great success.at this juncture.