11

H.—6a

Seventy-five fires have occurred in the Dunedin Fire District during the past year, as against 63 for the previous year, an increase of 12. The lire loss amounted to £30.987. compared with £15,344, an increase of £15,643. The estimated cost of the brigade for the. year 1911-12 is £6,500, as against £6.000 for 1910-11, an increase of £500. FEILDING. Two visits have been made to the Feilding Fire District 12th September, 1910. and 12th January, 1911. respectively. The new Central Fire-station was officially opened on the 12th September, 1910, by the Hon. Minister of Internal Affab». The building is a two-storied brick structure containing commodious engine-house, two loose-boxes, all necessary offices, store-rooms. Arc. and accommodation for five single men. At the inspection drill held on the 12th January, I'M 1. there were present the Deputy Superintend ent. 13 firemen, and 2 messengers, with 2 on leave, or 18 accounted for out of a then strength of 24 on the roll. Owing to some misunderstanding, proper notice of the inspection bad not been given to the members of tin; brigade, therefore this attendance must be considered satisfactory under the circumstances. The various drills were carried out in a smart and fairly efficient manner, but a more methodical system of drill should be adopted. The plant and appliances are maintained in good order and condition. The following letter was forwarded to the secretary of the Board : — " Sir. " Office of the Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington. 3rd April, 1911. " In reply to your letter dated the 24th ultimo, I beg to inform you that, in my opinion the time has not yet arrived that calls for the provision of a motor fire-car in F'eilding. Your borough, though covering a fairly large area some 2,300 acres is Hat. and has a popu'ation of only about 4.(kmi people, and. with the exception of a small area immediately in the. neighbourhood of the new'y built lire-station, consists principally of one-story more or less widely detached dwellinghouses. A one-horse hose-and-ladder cart fitted with quick-hitching harness arrangements is maintained at the station, and with the caretaker by day and firemen sleeping on the premises should Insufficient for present requirements in that direction. What should now receive the consideration of your Board is the installation of a fire-alarm system as recommended in mv annual report for 1910. I have. &c., "Thos. T. Hugo, " Inspector of Fire Brigades." During the year 7 fires have occurred in the Feilding Fire District, the same number as in the previou year. The fire loss for the year amounted to £1.236. as against £8,125, a decrease of £6,88!». The estimated cost of the brigade for the year 1911-12 is £590. compared with £542 for 1910 I I, an increase of £48.

GISBORNE. Two inspections of the Gisborne Fire Brigade and its equipment have been held viz.. loth October. 1910, and 23rd March. 1911. At the first inspection there were present the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, 22 firemen, and 3 messengers, with lon leave : this accounts tor the full strength. On the 23rd March there were present the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, 12 firemen, and 2 messengers, with 5 on leave, 2 sick, and 3 absent. The attendance at this second inspection was not a satisfactory one. The various drills required were performed smartly and efficiently, with the exception that certain alterations in the method of practice, recommended during previous inspections, had not been attended to. The plant and appliances are maintained in good order and condition. The following two interim reports have been sent to the secretary of the Board : — ■• Sit:. " Office of Inspector of Fire Brigades. Wellington. 31st October. 1910. " Following upon my inspection of the Gisborne Fire Brigade, its plant and appliances. &c, I have the honour to submit a report in connect ion with some of the subject s discussed between your Board and myself at the meeting held on the evening of the 21st instant. " The firebell in Gladstone Road is badly hung, and the ringing arrangements are defective. This matter is, 1 understand, to be immediately remedied. Persons residing in the immediate neighbourhood of the Whataupoko and Kaiti hose-boxes should receive some instruction in the use of the appliances lor the purpose of rendering first aid. " I would again impress upon your Board the necessity of erecting, with as little delay as possible, a new lire-station that will, amongst other things, provide suitable accommodation for a caretaker and a certain number of firemen. The present station is very old. and quite inadequate for requirements, and it would be an economical mistake to spend any money at all upon it. " From a fire-prevention point of view only 1 would strongly deprecate the building—as is at the present time being done—close to the centre of the town, of houses constructed of wood on sections