PETONE FIRE BOARD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 2, 27 September 1917, Page 9

PETONE FIRE BOARD

QUARTERLY MEETING

FREEDOM FROM FIRES

The quarterly meeting of the Petone Fire Board was held at the Municipal Buildings yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. W. JPEwan, who .was elected chairman, presided, and there were also present: Messrs. H. E. Kempthorne, T. B. Ching, C. E. Smith, Newland, and Macdougn.l. The Hutt Park Committee wrote' Tcicing if the board would aTiow the brigade to proceod to the Butt Park and render assistance in the event of an outbreak of fire in any of the buildings tltere. It was decided to take no action in the matter, in view of the fact that the Hutt Park buildings were out of the borough boundaries. Inspector Hugo's report on the Pelone Fire Brigade and plant was generally favourable. With respect to the motorengine, :he suggested that there was only one system of ignition, which in case of accident would leave the brigade in' an awkward position. He suggested that another'system should be added. The matter was referred to the local committee for consideration. Mr. M'Ewan said that he had a conversation with Mr. Hugo, who expressed himself thoroughly. satisfied witli the improvement that had been made in the brigade. A letter was received from the Hutt Valley Ambulance Committee asking that the motor-ambulance be housed at theFire Station. A deputation in connection with the matter waited on tho board. Mr. Gough, secretary of the Hutt Valley Ambulance Committee, headed the deputation, and said that the committee did not expect the board to hamper itself iti any way, but if the board could find room in its yard for the housing of tho , ambulance it would be a great boon to the committee. ■ The board decided to refer the matter to the local committee and the superintendent. The members of the Fire Brigade wrote forwarding copy of a resolution passed by tho brigade expressing confidence in Superintendent Dames P. Gay nor, and Deputy-Superintendent Godber. The letter was received. Mr. F. W. Fox wrote withdrawing the letter written by him on Maroh 21, which, he now saw reflected ou the superintendent, and stating that the allegations made were without foundation in fact. The letter was ■ received. A letter was received from the Superintendent of the State Guaranteed Advances Office advising that the precedent consent of the Governor-General-in-Coun-.cit under Section 26 of the Appropriation Act, 1915, had been obtained to the renewal of the loan of 4:1900. Messrs. Izard and Weston wrote on behalf of vhe Wellington Harbour Board re renewal of mortgage. The documents, it was stated, were ready for execution, and a committee was appointed to sign them.. The Fire Brigade wrote forwarding copy of a resolution proposed by tho executive of the United Fire Brigades' Association, the effect of which was to ask the National Efficiency . Board to olassify fire brigade work as an essential industry, and to grant, exemption to present members of the Second Division. The letter was received. It was resolved to consider the Fire Brigade's request for assistance in tho purchase of a, billiard table, and cost of alterations to a shed at the roar of the: station, when the estimates came up for review. • The estimates for the vear ended June 30, 1918, show receipts totalling .£BSO -10s.; of which ss. is the credit balance brought forward."'.-In the eatimales of expenditure salaries and wages : amount to ,£4lB 18s., none of the other items being important. The total estimated expenditure is exactly tho amount of tho revenue, and includes .£2O for timber for the Firo Brigade billiard room, It was stated ,that tho board's account was overdrawn to the amount of £U7 3s. 3d., and there was a debit balance on the motor-engine account. The estimates were adopted with two slight alterations,. ; The DeputySuperintendent's salary was increased by ,£5. and tho estimate of repairs to plant reduced by that amount;

Superintendent's Report. Superintendent James P. Gaynor, in his report, slated that the quarter had been very free/from fires, tho brigade only having to turn out once fo a firo and once for a false alarm. 'Hie outbreak of'fire had possibilities of seriousness, but the promptness shown in turning out prevented the Qre making any headway. There was;an alarm-box just outside'the shop wbero the outbreak occurred, yet the brigade received the call by a messenger. On this point it was decided to approach the' Borough Council to fix'red lamps wherever possible near to tho alhrm-boxos.