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During the inspection visits instruction in fire drill has been given in the smaller towns ; inspections have been made and reports submitted in respect to public buildings and institutions ; also, as usual, advice has been given to local bodies and others in regard to fire-prevention, water-supply, &c., and specifications for the supply of plant and appliances drawn up. Special visits have been made, of which the following are the principal:— Palmerston North—July 19, 1926 : Opening of new central fire-station ; presentation longservice medals. Wanganui—August 16, 1926 : Annual meeting. Trentham Camp—September 8 and 10, 1926 : Inspection and report. Mount Roskill —September 16, 1926 : First inspection of district, formation of brigade, &c. Onehunga—September 17, 1926 : Inspection new station building. Otaki—October 5, 1926 : Inspection new station building and new motor-engine. Napier—October 9, 1926 : Annual meeting. New Plymouth—October 26, 1926 : Presentation long-service medals. Otaki —December 1, 1926 : Opening of new station. Mount Roskill— December 9 and 16, 1926 : Arrangement for and testing of new motor fireengine and pumps. Lower Hutt —January 5, 1927 : Inspection and report on theatre-exits. Queenstown —January 20, 1927 : Fire-protection arrangements. Gisborne—March 1 to 3, 1927 : Conference United Fire Brigades Association. Rotorua —March 4, 1927 : Report on King George V Hospital. Masterton —March 30, 1927 : Annual meeting. Petone—April 16 and 18, 1927 : United Districts Fire Brigades Conference. Pukekohe—May 9, 1927 : Interim inspection. Christchurch—May 18, 1927 : Fire protection, Government railway-station and. yards. Timaru- -May 19, 1927 : Board meeting in regard to purchase of sections of land. Waipukurau—June 27, 1927 : Inspection Pukeora Sanatorium, and Board meeting. Pahiatua—June 28, 1927 : New fire-motor instruction and drill. Following upon an invitation from the executive officers of the Unite Fire Brigades Association, I attended their annual conference held in Gisborne in March last, and there delivered an address to the conference delegates upon fire-prevention and fire-protection matters generally. At the request of the conference the address is to be printed and distributed to the brigades. During the year the Department has, as in previous years, on behalf of various Fire Boards and of the United Fire Brigades Association, imported and distributed fire-hose in accordance with the requests received to that effect. Following are the principal improvements and additions to equipment in various fire districts : — Auckland—New fire-station to serve the Point Chevalier district completed and in occupation. Christchurch : New district fire-station in Sydenham completed and in occupation. Dunedin : 20 h.p. motor runabout car. Dannevirke : Street fire-alarm system installed, consisting of two circuits with sixteen callboxes. Feilding : New 20/35 h.p. motor fire-engine fitted with a 250/300 g.p.m. turbine pump, first-aid outfit, &c. Gisborne : Street fire-alarm system installed, consisting of four circuits with fifty-seven call-boxes. Greymouth : New hose-reel station erected for protection of southern portion of the district. Hastings : Street fire-alarm system installed, consisting of four circuits with thirty callboxes ; also motor-engine fitted with a first-aid pumping outfit. Invercargill: Erection of new central fire-station completed and now in occupation. Mount Roskill: New 20/35 h.p. motor fitted with 250/300 g.p.m. pump, first-aid outfit, &c. Napier : 20 h.p. motor runabout car. Oamaru : Considerable additions and alterations to the central fire-station. Onehunga : Erection of new central fire-station, now in occupation ; new 40/50 h.p. motor, first-aid pump, hose-and-ladder tender. Otaki : 20 h.p. motor hose-and-ladder tender ; fire station erected and in occupation. Pahiatua : Additions and alterations to station ; 20 h.p. motor hose-and-ladder tender. Palmerston North : New Central station completed and in occupation. Pukekohe : Purchase of site for new station. Tauranga : Extra land adjoining the central station purchased for extension purposes. Timaru : Purchase of sections adjoining central station for extension purposes ; 20 h.p. motor runabout car. Wairoa : Erection of fire-station completed and in occupation ; 20 h.p. motor hose-and-ladder tender. Wanganui: 30/35 h.p. motor fitted with 250/300 g.p.m. turbine pump, first-aid outfit, &c. Wellington : 70 h.p. motor fitted with 800 g.p.m. turbine pump. Superintendents have reported the following casualties as having occurred in their respective districts :— Christchurch —June 18, 1927 : The Superintendent and the Foreman of the brigade sustained very severe burns due to petrol igniting during progress of a fire. They were removed to hospital, and are now recovering. Hamilton—March 15, 1927 : Fireman Elvers broke a bone in his foot whilst working at a fire.

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