Shortage of Water

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 81, 29 December 1937, Page 8

Shortage of Water

B.

HENDEBSON

Sir, — Kindly allow me space in your paper to contradict a statement which appeared in the report of the fires that occurred here on Monday afternoon, - in which it "was stated .that there was a shortage of water. I am very pleased to be able to give the above an emphatic denial, as at no stage of either fire was we at any time handicapped on account ol: having an insufficient water supply. During my experienee sinee the highpressure suppiy has been installed in Hastings have we ever had a shortage of water to combat .fires with and furthermore we have one of the best water supplies in New Zealand,. If there was any fault to be found in not extinguishing the fires earlier it certainly was not on account of insufficient water. — Yours, etc..

Superintendent Eire Brigade. Hastings, Dec. 28, 1937. [The belief that the pressure of water wan lower than usual gained currency among onlookers at the fire in Simmondg and Co.'s premises because one of the leads appeared to be throwing an madequate jet of water. This partieular lead was the one most prominently tn view of many of the public and was not working to full efficiency for reasons other than inadequate water pressure. The other leads were working up to full efficiency as proved by the mastery which the brigade obtained over the flames. — Editor.]