FIRE BRIGADES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 934, 29 September 1910, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES.

. : r- : REPORT BY THE INSPECTOR. ; 1 The annual report of the. Inspector of Fire Brigades : on. the working of the Fire. Brigades .Aot : was presented to tho House on "Tuesday. The inspector! states that in the course of his last inspections it was evident that in general a decided improvement had taken place , in the discipline, drill, and /methods a3 a whoie, with the exception although in some cases attention had been given to the matter) that more instruction and drill in rescue and ambulance work are ' required. The ;n----surance loss throughout the Dopiinion for •the year ended December 31 last amounted to £468,530, or £51,050 in excess of the' average loss for .the past five years. Adding 33 1-3 per cent, to the insurance loss, for the.purpose of arriving at the,approximate fire .waste for the year, brings, the amount to £624,707, or £68,067 in excess/ of the average for-the above period. The total, number of fires throughout the fire districts for the year ended June 30 was 378, an increase of '48 over the previous year. There were 189 fires of unknown origin. ' ' Referring to the Petone fire district, tho inspector says the new street ; alarm installation has, given satisfaction. Attention is apiin called to the necessity for the erectioh of a new station that will provide sleeping accommodation for a certain number of firemen. Thirteen fires oocurred, during the year ended June 30 last, as against six for the previous year. The loss by fire was £2266, as against £1529 for the previous year. The, esti- • mated cost of the brigade for the year 1910-11 is £G57 7s. 5d., as against £915, 4s. lid. for 1909-10. ,