FIRE BOARD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17118, 13 April 1921, Page 3

FIRE BOARD.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. The Christchurch. Fire Board met last night, Present—Messrs H. 0?. Hopkins, A. Williams, F. Burgoyne, M. Holland, H. R, Ruabridge, 3. K. uinieron, and A. Manning. Til* Canterbury (.New Zealand) Aviation Co., Ltd., applied, to be placed on the guaranteed list tor a iurther three months/ The superintendent reported that the time - for protection of the aerodromes at Sockborn eifcired on . sth inst., but' as the company was negotiating for' the installation or a pumping plant and laying down wells, the Brigade were keeping them protected until receiving further ■ instructions from the Board. The Board granted the Aviation Company's request. .",-.. The superintendent reported that during the month the number of calls.received waa 23. Ten were false alarms (sis being maliciously given), two rubbish l-.es, one chimney fire, ar_d ten actual fires. The estimated fire loss for the period was £731. The insurances on buildings and contents were £11,860, and the estimated values of property involved totalled £19,030. For some considerable time past the direct telephone wires to Sydenham and St. Albans stations had not been too reliable, owing chiefly to their being nonmetallio. He would therefore ask that "Exchange telephones'' be installed at both these •ftations, 'more particularly now that the alarm, system was being placed in the watohroom, for calls to be transmitted to headquarters. He would suggest that the Tttegraph Department be asked to give preference to the work in the interests of puhlio safety. It was imperative that a runabout motor be purchased as early as possible, so as to relieve the.cost of 'wear and tear on the heavier and' more expensive appliance*. The report was adopted, but the proposed purchase of a runabout motor was deferred until the estimates were considered. PROTECTION FOR SPBEYDONi A formal notification was received from the Christchurch town clerk that the borough of

Spreydon would be united with the City of Chnstehurcb. as from April Ist, 1921, and that the area could be entitled to the services of the City Fire Brigade. '■ The chuirman said that the necessary instructions would be issued to Superintendent Warnei. The Superintendent reported that on April Iff Spreydon joined up with the city, and the following statistics gave sdme idea of the large district to be protected. The borough comprised 1320 acres, with 27 miles of etreets. about 1100 houses, and a population of 5000. The water supply for fire extinction was of a very limited nature, and in most cases is some distance from the thickly populated parts of the borough, therefore the Brigade had chiefly to rely upon receiving an "early call." which meant the extension of the street fire alarm system. In making his recommendation, he would point out that there were very few private telephones in the district, consequently eome means muss be provided for receiving that "early call" He would therefore recommend that twelve "duplex" street call boxes bs installed and connected up with the Sydenham Station as early as possible. Aa the work and responsibility of the Sydenham Sub-station was bsing increased by the protection of Spreydon, whereby a sufficient" staff was necessary to' work the plant 89 speedily as possible, he would.ask authority to engage two more permanent firemen -without delay. The Board granted authority to the Superintendent to engage two extra men for the Sydenham Station. Regarding tho "duplex" boxes it was decided to refer the matter to the executive to enquire into the cost, and the question of raising the money.