19

H.—(>A

A series of wet and dry drills was carried out by the brigade in a satisfactory manner, except that steam was got up very slowly on the fire-engine, and considerable|difficulty was experienced in maintaining a sufficient working-head of steam. This was due use of a bad quality of coal. The fire police carried out a number of ambulance and rescue exercises in ajsatisfactory manner. The station and plant are maintained in good order. The brigade requires 500 ft. of new hose. 1 have, &c, Thos. T. Huuu, Inspector of Fire Brigades. A special visit was paid to Masterton on the 11th September, for the purpose of conferring with the Board in connection with the tenders for the supply of a motor fire appliance. At the request of the Board a report bearing upon the proposed improvement of the borough water-supply was furnished, as follows :— Sir, — 17th September, 1914. In compliance with the request contained in your letter dated the 12th instant, and in accordant , with the sanction of the Minister of Internal Affairs thereto, 1 have the honour to forward herewith a report relating to the proposed scheme for the improvement of the water-supply for fire purposes in your borough. I have carefully considered the scheme as set out in a copy of the Wairarapa Age dated the 16th July last, together with certain modifications of the proposal as explained to me by His Worship the Mayor during my visit to Masterton on the 11th instant. Briefly stated, the suggested improvements, as I understand them, are as follows : First, the laying-down a second carrying-main 12 in. diameter from the reservoir to the junction of Renall and Pownall Streets. Second, to lay an 8 in. (reducing to 6 in.) main from Renall Street southward to Short Street, thence along High Street, and connecting with the 6 in. in Queen Street; to lay an 8 in. main from Renall Street northward along Pownall Street to Cole Street, thence continuing with a 6 in. along Villa, Wrigley, and King Streets, and connect with 6 in. in Queen Street. Third, to replace present 3 in. with 4 in. mains. Fourth, connecting up dead-ends and completing circuits. Fifth, giving a constant pressure of 801b. in Queen Street. At first sight the 6 in. main in Queen Street would not appeal to afford sufficient protection for the larger risks there ; but as there is on the one side Chapel Street, having a 6 in. main that runs parallel at a distance of only 5 chains, with ample means of through communication, and on the other side, at the same distance, Dixon Street, having a 4 in. main, and as an auxiliary water-supply for the engine is available from the different wells, the provision may lie considered sufficient at present. Sooner or later large business premises will be erected in the neighbourhood of the railway-station and along Pine Street, and both in view of present conditions and future developments I would strongly recommend that the proposed new 8 in. main to run north should be of 10 in. in diameter instead, from Renal! Street along Pownall Street and Villa Street as far as Lincoln Road ; thence a 6 in. continuance, as suggested, to Wrigley and King Streets. The proposed scheme would then, in my opinion, in conjunction with the provision by your Board of a motor pump, provide reasonable protection for a considerable time to come, and in such a manner that will allow of future extension or laying-down in certain localities of pipes of larger diameter at comparatively small cost. 1 have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. A motor fire appliance is now on older. The accepted tender provides for a6O h.p. machine fitted with a pump having a delivery capacity of 400 gallons per minute, and to carry a 40 ft. extension ladder. The Board have decided to amalgamate the fire brigade and fire police corps in one body, and arrangements are now being made to give effect to that direction. During the year eighteen calls were received, of which number six proved to be actual fires within tin , district. The attendance of members of the brigade at the nine calls for which a general alarm was sounded averaged fifteen per call, or 65-2 per cent, of the full strength. The attendance of fire police average nine per call, or 64-3 per cent, of the total strength. The fire loss for the"year amounted to £3,203, as against £3,790 for HI 13, a decrease of £587. The estimated cost of the brigade for 1914 15 is £1,151 Is. 4d., as compared with £1,150 for 1913-14, an increase of £1 Is. 4d. MILTON. Two inspections of the Milton Fire Brigade .and its equipment have been made viz., 22nd October, 1913, and 11th February, 1914. The following report, forwarded to the secretary of the Board, covers the first inspection : Sμ:. 13th November, 1913. An inspection of the .Milton Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the 22nd ultimo, when there were present the Superintendent, Deputy, and twelve firemen : these, with one on leave, accounted for the full strength of the satisfactory attendance. It was stated that, on account of sonic unascertained fault, it had been found that the manual labour involved in working the recently purchased semi-rotary pump was so severe that it would be impossible to utilize, at a fire, the said pump to any extent, if at all. The pump was taken to the trough, where it worked in a satisfactory manner. As a further test it was then taken to the stream at the rear of the woollen-mills, and it worked satisfactorily for the first few minutes, but the action