FIRE LOSSES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 515, 24 May 1909, Page 8

FIRE LOSSES.

-SUGGESTIONS BY CAPTAIN HUGO. [Br TitECiEipn—rnE33 association.) Auckland, May 22. New Zealand's losses through fires navo averaged at least £500,000 per year during the last fow years, says Captain Hugo, inspector of fire brigades, who is at present in Auckland. ' How can this waste be reduced? he was asked. , * . , Iα reply. Captain Hugo detailed somo of tho most frequent causes of fire. First, in the list camo tho faulty mothod of constructing most wooden dwellings. They aro provided with excellent material for spreading llair.es in the shape of light board partitions covered with highly inflammable paper and scrimp whilo gaps between tho boards gave further facility; for tho rapid progress of fire 'If-'partitions were plastered, there would jbo a chance of 'confinine an outbreak to' a, singlo room, but when the brigade is called to an average dwolling-houso in New Zealand, said the fire inspection, "tho wholo placo has to bo soused before tho seat of the fire is discovered. The remedy'is quite simple. If,only the lining boards woro tongued and. grooved, or more closely fitted, tho firo would 'not spread so rapidly. Plaster ia a better , material , for partitions,and brick houses aro best of all." Fires would bo reduced in numbor, he said, if there were fewer, chimney faults, somo 'of which were due to earthquakes, and if all local bodies followed tho example o£ the.older and woll regulated cities by making the accumulation of empty cases, barrels, and straw a punishable offence, ''