FIRE FIGHTING UP-TO-DATE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2191, 2 July 1914, Page 9

FIRE FIGHTING UP-TO-DATE.

BRIGADE'S NEW MOTOR-ENGINE.

The members of tho City Fire Brigade Committee of the City Council wero treated to a run in tho new motor fire-engine on Tuesday afternoon, and the fire-engine answered all tho demands made i poll it. A good test was given tho engine b.v taking it up Hawker Street, round Oriental Terrace to Roseneath, and back again via Oriontal Bay. It was p!jj;od in commission yesterdiy. Tho new motor engine, tho chassis for which was imported from England iu March last, has already undergone several preliminary triala. It is equipped with a G5-horse-power l'horncycroft motor on a steel chassis supplied by tho sumo firm. The body was built locally by Crawley, Ridley, and Co. It will carry seven men, 2000 ft. of hose, and two small hand chemical machines, and will run at speeds according to gears uued. of 10, 18, and 35 miles per hour. One drawback tho brigade has had to contend against in the past, when using tho_3o-horse-power Thorneycroft motor engine was its extremely limited hillclimbing powers, which not infrequently hampered tho fire-fighters in reaching tho point of alarm as quickly as they should. The new vehicle will also be provided a little later on with a 30ft. extension-ladder, to bo carried overhead. Tho new motor will for the future be used as the ordinary runabout from, the Central Station, whilst tho 30-horse-power motor, now four years old, will be added to tho equipment of the Thorndon Station. Tho body of the new engine has been constructed to a design, planned by Superintendent Tait, who is pleased with tho quality of tho work which has been put into tho job.