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Palmerston North. Inspection, sth June, 1925. There were present at the inspection muster two officers and nineteen firemen. The inspection drills were carried out in the usual efficient manner, and the station and equipment were in good order. There was an average attendance of 77-3 per cent, of the membership at the thirty-four general fire calls —a fair average. Fire-prevention conditions in Palmerston North are not satisfactory. As far back as 1911 I called attention to the necessity of installing a street fire-alarm system, and, although the work has been commenced, up to the present (30th June) only one circuit with nine call-points has been installed. In 1919 attention was called to the inadequacy of the present station for its purpose, and also to the fact that the site itself was altogether too cramped to be of any further use for headquarters fire-station. Ultimately, after some five years' negotiations, a site was purchased in 1923, but so far no building contract has been let. Further, the water-pressure record shows that at times the pressure falls as low as 301b., and frequently only some 401b. to 501b. is registered —a dangerous condition of things; and, as the water loan has been rejected,-the position calls for the provision of a second pumping unit. Petone. Inspection, 11th June, 1925. Two officers and fourteen firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in the usual efficient manner, and the station, motors, and other equipment were in good order and condition. The returns show the attendance at the twenty-two fire calls averaged 50-2 per cent, of the membership —not a good attendance. Port Chalmers. Following is a copy of my report to the Port Chalmers Fire Board, covering my inspection made in March last: — " An inspection of the Port Chalmers Brigade and its equipment was made on the 9th instant, when at the inspection muster there were present the Superintendent and five firemen ; and in this connection I would point out that I have not had a proper opportunity of judging, so far as can be decided by my inspections, of the efficiency of the personnel of the brigade, in that at my inspections during the last six years there has never been a satisfactory attendance, and in other ways there appears to be a want of interest in fire-brigade matters, with little or no knowledge of the improvements in drill and in other matters that have been and are being introduced throughout the fire service in New Zealand." In regard to non-attendance at the inspections, it is right I should mention that upon three occasions absence was due to a number of the men having to return to work on the respective nights. Three hundred feet of new hose and nine pairs or new couplings are required. Rotosua. Inspection, 21st November, 1924. At the inspection muster two officers and thirteen firemen were in attendance. The inspection drills were carried out in an efficient manner, and the station and equipment were in good order and condition. There was an average attendance of 70-6 per cent, of the membership at the sixteen general fire calls —a fair average. The street fire-alarm boxes have been fitted with telephones, and the Board has decided to purchase a motor pumping unit. Taumarunui. Inspection, 6th May, 1925. At the inspection muster there were present two officers and thirteen firemen. The inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and equipment were in good order. At the twelve fire calls there was an average attendance of 70-84 per cent, of the membership—a fair average. The present firebell is too small; it should be replaced by a larger bell or a siren, and the small bell re-erected at Matapuna. Several minor matters require attention, as pointed out during my visit. Tauranga. Inspection, 20th November, 1925. Two officers and eleven firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. Instruction was given in the recently Standardized squad drill. The inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and equipment were in good order. Since establishment of Fire Board control, with the exception of purchase of motor fire-engine and Some attention to minor details, nothing has been done to improve fire-prevention matters in Tauranga, and present conditions in that respect are unsatisfactory. Following are some of the more particular matters requiring attention, and that have regularly for years past been brought under the notice of the Board : The provision of Some system of street fire-alarms (as there is no police patrol, and the civilian night watch has been discontinued, this has become an even more urgent matter); purchase of additional land for extension of the present fire-station ; provision of mechanical means of ringing the firebell; also, I noticed the roadway, corner of Durham and Wharf Streets, adjacent to the fire-station, was still in the dangerous condition as at the time of my previous visits. Te Aroha. Inspection, 25th November, 1924. Two officers and eleven firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. Instruction was given in the recently standardized drill, and practice therein, as a first attempt, was carried out in a satisfactory manner. At the seven fire calls there was an average attendance of 83-1 per cent, of the membership of the brigade —a good average.