FIRE PREVENTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 102, 20 December 1939, Page 5

FIRE PREVENTION

INSPECTORS APPOINTED

OHOPE AFFAIRS DISCUSSED

At the monthly meeting of the YVhakatane County Council held yesterday. Councillor H. C. MeCready reported on the meeting which he had called at Ohope for the purpose of discussing lire control and other matters affecting that district.

Cr MeCready said that although the attendance wa*- not what might have been desired the tenor of the meeting was good and general discussion had brought forward several suggestions for the improvement of the beach. In the Councillor's opinion these conferences should be called more often and he was willing to do this.

Continuing, Cr MeCready reported that a suggestion had been made that the County Council should form a parking area at the bottom of the hill, between the dam and the main road. It was also advanced by the meeting of ratepayers that the area for water supply should be blocked on the grounds that visitors to the beach might be careless and there was a great risk of lire in this area.

The Chairman: Their suggestion would be to fence olf the dam? Not to prevent the public from going in at all?

; Cr McCready: Yes, to keep them but altogether as a help in preserving the bush. The County Engineer, Mr Breb— ner, thought it advisable to completely fence the area as there was a great risk of fire. Cr McGougan: If the people living there there want us to do this I suppose we should. Anything that is going to help in preserving the bush ought to be considered. Unauthorised Expenditure. Continuing his report, Cr McCready said that there was also tli« matter of the balance ot special rates held by the couucil. It was the suggestion of the Ohope meeting that this money should be spent on work at the beach if it could not bo used for other purposes. The ratepayers had in mind the establishment of a children's reserve or play ground. The County Clerk pointed out that the money could be spent as unauthorised expenditure and thus be used for the purpose considered by the ratepayers. The chairman suggested that another meeting at Ohope be called soon and Cr McCready undertook to do this. Fire Prevention Inspectors. It was moved and seconded that the appointment of Messrs A. Blake, K. Goodwin, G. Mahy, R. Eraser, P. Builen, F. Mahy, Senr., and Mr Dowelling as inspectors in regard to Ohope Fire Prevention only be approved: that a man be employed at the beach over the Christmas period for cleaning and general supervision work; that white posts oe erected at the bridge at the foot of the hill: and that the water catchment area be fenced.

Powers ot Inspectors

The inspectors are appointed by the County Council in pursuance of its powers under the Counties Act, 1920, Whakatane County 19:33 Bylaws, Public Works Act, 1928, and the Police Offences Act, 1927. relative sections of which read as follows: 1. Live Ashes: No occupier of any building shall deposit or suffer to be deposited any live ashes in any wooden receptaclc outside such building or on the ground in any pLace which shall be less than ten feet from such building or any other building. Bonfire: No person shall light any bonfire tar-barrel or firewood upon or within 60 yards of any public or private road or on any public place. 2. Makes any fire without written authority from the Local Authority having control of the road. 3. Burns any litter, straw, shavings, or other combustible materials upon any public place, or on any open space near any building, and so as to endanger such building; or leaves any inflammable materials or matter is any public place, or on any open space near any building without having first obtained the per mission of the Local Authority.