THE FIRE ENGINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 379, 2 April 1902, Page 2

THE FIRE ENGINE.

A NEW BOILER TO BE ORDERED

At the meeting of the Borough Council last night, Cr Harding said that after the experience of the fire last week he had no hesitation in saying that they should at once procure the most up-to-date boiler, no matter what the cost was. Though there was a conflict of opinion as to the time it took to get the water on, he had himself timed it, and he had no hesitation in saying that it was over twenty minutes from the first stroke of the bell to when the water appeared in the hose. Such a lapse meant that they were taking great risk by not getting the new boiler. The Mayor said that after a practice the water leaked away from the mains, and it took 21 to 3 minutes to fill them. On the last occasion they had out six chains of hose, which tequired nearly a minute to flow' through. He could not think they were twenty minutes, the time given (in the Times) was fifteen minutes, and allowing that steam was got up in II minutes and that the water took a minute to flow through the hose, it seemed to him that fifteen minutes, would more likely be the time taken. They had under consideration a proposal to utilise the manual engine to pump direct into the mains, with the gas engine as the motive power. The gas engine would have to lie kept warm, so that it would start immediately, and then they would at once get a certain amount of pressure until the full pressure was available. Cr Miller : If all this is carried out, how much longer will it take than if we had a proper boiler ?

The Mayor : It will be as quick. Cr Jones But it will only be a makeshift after all ; it will be nothing to prevent us procuring a proper boiler. Cr Miller : I understand we are just awaiting a report from Your Worship. Cr Lysnar : I understood we left it to the Works Committee. The Mayor : I took them down to the shed ; they decided not to order a boiler, but a resolution was passed to act one as soon as possible. Cr Jones : No, I moved in Unit direction, but only three supported it then.

On the minutes being looked up it was found that a motion had been passed staying action until a report had been received of the trial. Cr Harding : Wc had a trial the other night. Cr Miller : And what is the report ? The Mayor : I say the time was not so very long after all. Cr Harding proposed that the most up-to-date boiler be obtained as early as possible. Cr Lysnar seconded the motion, adding that they could not have a better test than a fire, when the brigade were taken unawares.

Cr Jones supported the motion. They all knew his views on the matter, and he need not say anything further, excepting that he would like to add that their thanks were due to the Mayor for the trouble he had taken in the matter so as to try and avoid the. expense.

The motion was- carried unanimously. ■ The Mayor said it would not be safe to cable, as they would have to supply full details of what was required.