FIRES OF THE YEAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 246, 11 July 1919, Page 9

FIRES OF THE YEAR

"'" ' •■■;,.■ ■:':'»..V'. >-'/■.. SUPERINTENDENT' TAIT'S REPORT. • In the courso of his report to the City Council for the.year, ended March' 31 last, Superintendent H. Tait, of the Wellington. Municipal Five Brigade, says:- • "There I have, been 209 oalls to fires, or supposed fires, an increase ' /of 23 as compare<l with last year.' Of these 41) proved to ho false alarms '(25 due to various causes and 18 maliciously given), 23 were'.chimney fires', "47 rubbish and gorse, and' 96 actual, fires. The following tables shows ..a comparison, for the two years:— ', 1917-18. 1918-19. Actual fires 97- 9G . Rubbish and gorse fires ...' 20 • 47 Chimney fires .;.....'....",'.;.... 24 23 False alarms ........! 39 43 ' Totals ..'....' '186 -.209 , ,' ■ £ ''• •£ Estimated loss of property not covered by insurance 507 Estimated loss of property covered by insurance ... 13,905 Estimated .value of property on which . fires occurred ■ .'...1... 1 ... 200,474 Total estimated ■loss "''for' 1 '"'■' '"'' " ! : ,-the year .....'. '....'.1.;'..... ' .£14,412 "Of the total fire loss for the year, the fire which took place at the Hardwood Company's and Messrs; Brownlee and Company's timber yards on November 5 was responsible for ,£11,252. "During .the year the streot fire alarm system has worked satisfactorily. All the instruments have been overhauled and tho lines repaired or renewed where 1160633817. No extensions ; have been pos. 6ible principally owing, ■to necessary materials being unobtainable: . Thewholc system is at present in good repair. ■ "The work of standardising the transmitting instruments connecting the various systems with the - stations ; has been completed. Five new connections were also added, bringing the total • private fire .alarm connections to .45, in addition to the Wellington Harbour Board's seven semi-public points. • This Department received very valuable assistance in the provision of transmitters, and relays from the Government Telegraph Engineers' Department, 1 to whom I offer my best thanks. x "All the plant and most "of the stations are at present in excellent repair lienovations to both have been earned out by the staff during the year. Four thousand five hundred feet of 2jf canvas hose was received from the makers during the year. The new station is being erected ■at Constable Street as rapidly as circumstances will.. permit, and it is expected will be completed this year. "During the year 190. .licenses .were issued for < the storago of: dangerous goods, and the premises, where necessary, inspected. In December last new general Harbour Board regulations were gazetted, which should, if given propei effect to, minimise the dangers connected with; the handling of petroleum oils among snipping. ' "Accidents and sickness have been responsible for members being' off duty '"""for an aggregate of 21G days during the year. The influenza epidemic was responsible for most of the sickness. Twenty-one members of the permanent stati were.affected,' but, I am pleased to report, none fatally. The health of the brigade at present is good.- The discipi lino of the brigade has been, well maintained. The extraordinary-.'., conditions which prevailed during tho year, especially that covering tho epidemic period, made many demands'upon officers and men, who have done their duty Tight loyally.. The attendance of the auxiliary members of the brigade—in all districtshas been very satisfactory. In conclusion I beg to express my sincere thanks to the chairman and .members of the Fire Brigado Committee for their kind consideration and support at all times when matters concerning the welfare and cihciency of the brigade were placed before tliem. I desire further to tender my thanks to the officers of the various departments, officers and members of ths Police Department, officers and members of the fire police, for their valuableassistance, also the-brigade's officers and members for their loyalty and support during the year."