KAITANGATA NEWS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 43, 28 November 1913, Page 6

KAITANGATA NEWS.

BEOM OHB OWN OOBBUSPOHDUHX. FIBE BRIGADE. The local fire brigade held a meeting in the Council Chambers on Monday evening, a good muster of members being present. Captain Soilness occupied the chair. The meeting was held for the purpose of discussing the purchase of a chemical engine for extinguishing fires within the town. As stated in last issue of the Leader, the Christchurch Fire Brigade had offered one of their 80gallon engines to the local brigade, the price of '"Which would be £SO. The brigade also had offered to it a month in which to raise the purchase money. This engine originally cost the Christchurch brigade'no less than £'.oo, but that body has now gone in for motor engines, and therefore decided to sell the horse-drawn ones, which are yet practically new and in thorough order. A visitor who was present at the meeting on Monday evcuing stated that he had seen the engine at work in Christchurch, and it worked splendidly, but as far as traction was concerned it was a pretty heavy machine to drag about, and especially so on the steeper streets of this town* However, it was decided to canvass the town for funds to purchase the engine, Captain Soilness saying that the question of haulage would be overcome, seeing that there are horses always in Reid's stables at night; and then humourously added, "We might be able to advise people to have their fires in the daytime." Should the canvass bring in more than the amount required to purchase the engine the surplus or part of it might be well spent upon putting a new pair of wheels on the present hose reel, for on the occasion when it was last in use the flying spokes clearly spoke out the need of repairs. Householders will be waited upon at once by the collectors, who intend to have their lists in again as soon as possible.