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Masterton. Two officers and eight firemen were 011 parade at the inspection muster —in the circumstances a creditable attendance. Certain drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and equipment were found in good order and condition. Attendance at nine general fire calls averaged 75-2 per cent, of the total strength—-a fair record. During the course of the inspection drill the suction-pipe of the Church Street sump was found to be defective. Milton. Inspection, 12th January, 1928. Two officers and ten firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, showing a decided improvement on my previous inspection. The station and equipment were found in good order and condition. A test off the 6 in. main in Unwin Street showed the pressure of water to be most inadequate for fire-suppression purpose. Mount Roskill. Two officers and thirteen firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The required inspection drills were carried out in a smart and efficient manner, and the station and equipment were found in first-class order. The attendance at twenty-six general alarms averaged only 32-5 per cent, of the total strength. As at the six fires that occurred between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5.30 a.m. only six men, or 33 per cent., of the total strength, were in attendance, it would appear that the alarmsiren is not sufficiently powerful. Napier. Inspection, 12th March, 1928. At the central station two officers and nineteen firemen were on parade. At the Port station the full strength of the section—one officer and eleven firemen—were in attendance. The inspection drills at the central station were carried out in a satisfactory manner. The Port section deserve special commendation in that particular. Some new branches and nozzles are required at the central station. The motor-pump and suction-hose at the Port station required attention, also a hot-water system should be installed at this station. Other than the above requirements, both stations and equipment were found in good order and condition. A recommendation was made that a Volunteer Fire Police Corps should be organized in Napier. New Plymouth. Inspection, Bth November, 1927. At the inspection muster the full strength of the Brigade, twentyfive officers and men, were on parade. The inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and equipment found in good order and condition. The attendance at fifteen general fire calls averaged 77-6 per cent, of the total membership—a fair record. A recommendation was made that a suitably equipped workshop and reserve hose storeroom should be erected. Other minor recommendations were also made. OAMABU. / Inspection, 10th January, 1928. Two officers and eleven firemen were in attendance. The required inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, showing quite an improvement in that respect, and the station was in good order. Some of the hose was leaky —not in fit condition for use at a fire ; it should be repaired or condemned. Some of the street hydrants were entirely covered with road-metal or bitumen ; more attention should be paid to keeping them in good working-order. Attendance at the six fire calls averaged 77-7 per cent, of the total strength—a fair record. Ohakune. Inspection, 30th January, 1928. Two officers and nine firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The required inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner. Attendance at the nineteen fire calls averaged 70-2 per cent, of the total membership—a fair record. The station and trailer motor-pump were in good order, but in regard to the newly acquired motor hose-and-ladder tender a new body is urgently required. At present the hose and appliance box is too small to carry the necessary equipment ; there is no driver's footboard, and the feet of men on the front seat might easily become entangled in the uncovered crank-shaft flexible joint; nor is there any running footboarding to enable men to mount the machine : further, in accordance with the Motor Regulations, the machine must be fitted with a siren in place of the present feeble whistle. Other minor recommendations were made in my report to the Board. Onehunga. Inspection, 9th December, 1.927. Two officers and fourteen firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in a smart and efficient manner, and the station and appliances were in first-class order and condition. Attendance at the eighteen actual fires averaged 72-2 per cent of the total membership—a fair record. Some minor recommendations were made at the time and in my report. A second visit to the central fire station was made on the 16th June, 1928, when examination of the system of routine work and duties, as also the record and detailed reports, proved the system and the work at fires to be quite equal to any of the more efficient brigades under my supervision.

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