FIRE APPLIANCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 277, 27 November 1906, Page 3

FIRE APPLIANCES.

IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED,

The provision of additional fire appliances was referred to at the-meeting of the Harbour Board to-day, in a letter from the Town Clerk, who asked the Board to co-operate with. the City Council an providing a. petrol fire engine of 1000' gallons as recommended by the Fire Superintendent. It was suggested that a deputation from the Board might confer with the Finance Committee of the Council upon this matter.

The Superintendent of the City Fire Brigade (Mr. C. A. Woolley), in reportr ing on the use of a lire float, similar to the one at. present in use on the Manchester Canal, said the cost would be £ 12,000 in London. The upkeep ■ for crew, coal, stores, etc., would be at least £ 1200 per annum. In his opinion a conflagration as serious as recently occurred in Wellington might overtake our city in the event of a main bursting during the progress of a lire due to the extra pressure on the city reticulation. The duties of a tire. superintendent were onerous enough without this on his mind, and should such a catastrophe, take place the 450 gallon steam hre engine was the only appliance at his disposal. In Wellington they brought into service one engine of 1000 gals, and one of CSO gajs. He would suggest' that a Mervyweather and Sons' petrol fire .engine of 1000- gals, be provided. This was exactly the same as a motor lire float, only mounted on wheels and able to run or get to work anywhere. The advantages of this class of engines were that-they could turn out instantly on receipt ,of a call, no. steam had to be maintained in the boiler, and there was no delay- on arriving at a fire for a full head- of steam for working pressure. They should reach any part- of the city where the large risks, were in three minutes. They, could' pump from the harbour if required or the top of Queen-street without any unheces? sary hose being run cut. , '. He mentioned., that a trial took place in. Glasgow when the petrol-motor threw two jets six. minutes before the steam fire" engine had sufficient pressure to start work. As the motor would we in Queen-street at least 3 minutes. ; before a machine that weighed nearly 4. tons, the difference in time of arrival -and getting to woTk would J be the -difference qetween a large and :a sinaft fire. The cost of the motor;landed in Aucklandwas £2,600. r V