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Dannevirke. Inspection, 16t,1i January, 1929. Superintendent, deputy, fourteen firemen, and two messengers in attendance at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in a smart and efficient manner, and the station and equipment were found in good order. Attendance at the twelve general alarms averaged 80 per cent, of the total membership, a good record. A recommendation was made to the Board that conditions now called for the appointment of a permanent member of the brigade. Dargaville. Inspection, 10th October, 1929. Two officers and eight firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in a smart and efficient manner, and the station and equipment were found in good order. Attendance at the twelve fire calls averaged 74-2 per cent, of the total membership—a fair record. The motor fire-engine required fitting with a siren in accordance with the regulations of the Motor-vehicles Act; also, formation of a Volunteer Fire Police Corps was again advocated. Dunedin. Inspection, Bth December, 1928. The inspection drill at the central station, as also the turnout at the two district stations, were carried out in a smart and efficient manner. All stations and their equipment were found in proper order. A further run on the Roslyn motor served to confirm my previously expressed opinion that it is too heavy and slow in the " pick-up " to give efficient service in that particular district; it should be replaced with a lighter and faster machine. The street firehydrant indicators are in a bad state, particularly so in Princes Street—indistinct, out of line, and altogether missing in some places. This is a matter that should receive attention. Plans for the proposed new central station, to replace the present old congested building, have been prepared and submitted for approval. Eltham. Inspection, 26th September, 1928. The full strength of the brigade—two officers and fifteen firemen —were in attendance at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in a smart and efficient manner, and the station and equipment were found in good order and condition. Attention of the Board was again called to the necessity for providing additional living-accommodation at the fire-station. Feilding. Inspection, 10th April, 1928. Two officers and thirteen firemen were present at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and equipment were found in good order and condition. The attendance at nine general alarms averaged 81 per cent, of the total strength—a good record. Several recommendations in respect to the brigade equipment were made to and adopted by the Board. Foxton. Inspection, 7th February, 1929. Two officers and thirteen firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The inspection drills were carried out in an efficient manner, and the station and equipment were found in good order. Attendance at the eight fire calls averaged 68-8 per cent, of the total membership of the brigade. Certain members of the brigade were in need of uniform. Gisborne. Inspection, 7th November, 1928. Two officers; twenty firemen, and two cadets were present at the inspection parade. A contingent of the Volunteer Fire Police Corps was also in attendance. The inspection drills were carried out in an efficient manner, and the station and equipment were found in first-class order. Attendance at thirty-one general alarms averaged 85-2 per cent, of the total membership —a good record. Recommendations were made to the Board in regard to provision of fire-foam extincteurs and to the fitting of a siren on the Denby motor. Greymouth. Inspection, 25th October, 1928, when two officers and seventeen firemen were in attendance at the inspection muster. The required inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the stations and equipment were found in good order. Attendance at the nine general alarms averaged 93-5 per cent, of the total membership of the brigade—a very good record. In my report to the Board attention was called to the continued inadequacy of the water-supply for fire-extinction purposes, in particular applying to the limited extent of the reticulation and inadequate volume owing to the small diameter of the mains in general. Hamilton. Inspection, 20th November, 1928. The full strength of the brigade, two officers and twentytwo firemen, was present at the inspection parade. A contingent of the Volunteer Fire Police Corps was also in attendance. The required inspection drills were carried out in a smart and efficient manner, and the station and all equipnent were found in first-class order. Attendance at the twenty general alarms averaged 87-5 per cent, of the total membership of the brigade—a very good record. I had again to call attention to the necessity of erecting a substation for protection of the Frankton portion of the fire district. In February last the Hamilton ratepayers approved of a loan for improvement of the water-supply, and completion of the scheme set out will place the town on a much more satisfactory footing in regard to fire-prevention.

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