A MODEL FIRE BRIGADE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2987, 21 January 1881, Page 3

A MODEL FIRE BRIGADE.

( By Lyttelton Times Special Reporter.) A scientist of no mean standing recently a Dunedin audience with a graphic sketch of the daily practical applications of electricity in America. That gentleman was Mr "William Lant Carpenter, B.A. and 33.5 c, ' London University, whom Dr Hocken introduced to tbe audience as a son of Dr Carpenter, a man eminent in science and the higher education, who has written works treating of physiology and mental science, and has also contributed to those interesting results of the Challenger's deep sea soundings. It was in contemplation for this lecturer to follow Mr Proctor's example, by giving in the principal centres of population in this colony lectures on scientific subjects, in languages to be understood of the people, and so to aid in the noble work which is broadly termed the education of the masses. Unfortunately, the receipt of a cablegram necessitated Mr Carpenter's immediate departure, and he left New Zealand yesterday. He has all along been accompanied by a younger brother, who is travelling for health's sake, and who is now staying in this city. Mr R. Carpenter resembles his brother, in that he is an enthusisast in scientific matters, and in the course of his tour he has collected a mass y of interesting and valuable information, ( some of which will no doubt be one day presented to the public in durable form. While in America Mr Carpenter stayed for some time in Syracuse—abont ten hours' railway journey from NewSYork —where he -. was the guest of Major Syracuse is a —f city of about the same area as Christchurch. and is planned in such a manner that there is some resemblance between the two places. There are, however, some very appreciable differences. In Syracuse, the houses all of Wood, present much architectural, beauty ; the streets are planted with avenues of shade trees, and there is an efficient water supply, with—of course—a well-appointed City Fire Bragade. Amongst a considerable number of wealthy citizens, Syracuse possesses some who are also generous, and who devote time and money for the benefit of the community. Of this sort is one of the sons of Senator White, who has organised a model Fire Brigade establishment. That this has not been done by Mr White specially for his own benefit, is at once •videnced by the fact that he is not engaged in, or connected with, any kind of business. Just as Borne men maintain a racing tßtablishment, and make highly bred, highly trained horses their hobby, so Mr |B| White has found pleasure in his constant endeavours to perfect the life and propertysaving system which he has so nobly instituted. In Syracuse, even more than in Christchurch, promptness is necessary in dealing with an outbreak of fire. The handsomely designed wooden structures are —many of them—of a costly character; " and as they are subjected to the influence of an excessively dry atmosphere, they would burn down with immense rapidity. In the oourse of a pleasant conversation, Mr Carpenter told me about his visit to this really wonderful establishment, substantially as follows :— Major Davis remarked one day, as we were passing the place, " You will be interested to see what this gentleman is doing." The fire-engine houße is a beautiful building, with large double doors in the centre. We rang the bell, and were admitted by a side door. Mr White fortunately happened to be there, and very kindly showed us the whole of the appliances. First, however, he explained that he had been led to think the town fire-engine people were not quick enough, and that he had devised this rival establishment in order to stimulate them. On the central part of the engine-house floor, within the large doors, there is actually a carpet, rich both in design and material, and upon this carpet stands the engine. This may be described as a much enlarged edition of the well-known extincteur, and it embodies the same principle. There is a reservoir, in which —by the action of sulphuric acid on chalk—carbonic gas is gene- ~" rated and stored under great pressure, and the water thrown by the engine is impregnated with this carbonic acid. The engine throws soda water, in fact, and experience has proved it to be a most effective agent in stifling a fire. There are two stalls for horses, one on either side of the engine, and to the rear; and the horses in these stalls are kept harnessed, perfectly ready for immediate use. The way in which they are tethered is the result of most careful study. They are securely fastened to their mangers, but the dropping of a bolt will nevertheless release them instantly. From each horse a rod passes to the front of the engine, and on the rod is slipped the stout ring terminating the trace. The horses, I should explain, are most carefully trained, and the moment they are released they step round into position alongside the pole. As thoy do this, the before-mentioned ring slides along the rod, and drops on to the trace-hook, the back hitch being thus accomplished automatically. The front hitch also used to be managed in a somewhat similar way, but it is not so now. The present plan is to have the front hitch in the form of a large stirrup, and the fastenings can be fairly thrown together in a moment, even if the horses should become a bit restive, as will sometimes be the case. The stalls, I need scarcely tell you, are nicely fitted, and are kept scrupulously clean. Now this is what happens. When the electric alarm is sounded, all the lights are turned up, the current which gave the alarm having operated upon a lever tap controlling all the gas burners. The electric current also causes the drop of the bolt by which the two horses are fixed leaving them free to walk into their respective positions. There are two clocks in the place, both beating seconds, and working in perfect unison. The current has stopped one of these clocks, and has so recorded the precise moment at which the alarm was received. This is wonderful, but the electricity does more than this. In the loft above the engine room there are beds for five men. One man is always on duty, but the others always turn in. The peculiarity in the arrangement of their bedroom is this : All the coverings on each bed are attached to a rope, leading »to a centrally placed set of pulleys. The alarm current releases a very heavy weight —sufficiently heavy to drag off all the clothes from the beds ; and experience has demonstrated that this effectually wakens tho men. If a man happens to have the clothes hugged about his neck, why he is ■imply awakened in a ruder fashion, tho Hcrage of the central weight being more sufficient to drag him up. The men sleep ready dressed. On being up in the way I have described, they the ladder, each man taking up assigned to him. There is no to be raised ; there is always a full of carbonic acid, and there is nothing the men waiting. The man who at the rear of the engine is placed within reach of a long lever. this, and the folding doors of the fly open. The opening of the the second clock, and therefore time which has elapsed from the start. Now, guess that time ? make a guess —two minutes. Mr Krpenter laughed heartily, and resumed — Ike time has never exceeded twelve secouds, they have done it in five seconds. 1 PHrat not forget to tell you of the final and economical feat accomplished by the electricity. In exactly half a minute after the Brigade has left the station the gaslights are all turned down to their original height. By the way, I told you that when the men had taken their positions on the engine, there was nothing to detain them. That is not quite correct. The city of Syracuse, comparatively small, is divided into no fewer than 33 or 34 fire districts, and in each of

these there are arrangements for giving an alarm to a central station. I have observed that in Dunedin such alarms are being introduced. They arc those which enable you, by breaking a small pane of glass, to press down a button, and ring an electric bell. But in sending on the alarm from the central station to tho Firo Brigade, it is necessary, in ordov to save as much time as possible, to indicate the district. This has been done, under tho system in vogue at Syracuse, by giving a number of strokes on the electric alarm bell, corresponding with the number of the district. But you will see that this in some cases means delay, for you cannot well produce more tlaan-— say —three strokes per second ; and if the fire is in District No 30, there are ten seconds occupied in telling the men which direction to take. As a matter of fact, it has on occasions happened that the men have been seated on the engine waiting for tho completion of instructions to enable them to start. Mr White, at the time of my visit, was engaged in carrying out a new alarm system, one involving a large outlay, but at the same time perhaps the most effective that could be devised. It is this:—The wire from each district, instead of terminating at the central office, will be carried direct to the Brigade station; and when a given button is pressed, it will cause a number to be displayed in the Station, indicating the district. The plan is just that which is used in well-appointed hotels to denote in which room a bell has been rung. I may just add that in New York the Fire Brigade arrangements are very perfect, twelve seconds being the outside time that elapses between the sounding of the alarm and the turning out of the engine ; and I need scarcely tell you that, after inspecting such systems as obtain in America, your arrangements in Christchurch seem very primitive indeed.