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Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1922, Page 2

The condition of the water supply is causing, very congid'eralblA uneasiness in Fire Brigade circles. The opinion seems to be forming that even were the present leakage reduced substantially, the inflow of water is not adequate for security in regard -to fire prevention. At presnt the reservoir is a place for the storage of water -'n name only. Ther is no reserve of waiter to draw on in the c-ase of fire, while the inflow would nbt be adequate enough to serve efficien'.lv the three or four leads otf hose whiih would require to be run out in the case of a fire of any dimensions. The pressure would not be there to give force and effect to the water supply, and under thes conditions the service is rather a. snare than otherwise. It ia pointed out the Brigade is now trained to rely on the water service and in the event of an alarm the hrigadesmen go to their respective stations for the hose and reel plants. If after reaching a fire and finding the pressure ineffective, the Brigade has to send for the pumping plant, ,manual and steam, it will he seen there is the opportunity for much lost time. These possible circumstances are creating much concern in the minds of those connected with the fire fighting service, and in view of the fact that serious outbreaks of fire occur at unexpected times, there is occasion for the concern. It appears that the Borough Council should come to an early conclusion on the leakage question, and if it cannot be effectively dealt with with security as to the future, then the proposals for increasing the inflow bv an extra line from Kanieri Forks should he gone into, and the reservoir kept full with a storage supply of water ample for fire purposes.

A movement is afoot to organise Workers Educational lectures in Hokitika during the present year. At the recent summer camp at Little River in Canterbury where the matter of extending the activities of the Association was discussed, it was resolved to take up the work in Westland - , uking Hokitika a s the centre. On Saturday, Mr Frank O’Flynn of Runanga who is actively working in the interests of the movement on the Coast, was in town, and waited on the Chairman and other members of tho Progress League in regard to taking the matter up, Mr O’Flynn said, a number of lecturers from Canterbury College, Lincoln College, and the Agricultural Department would be coming to the Coast, and the Westland people should get the benefit of the visits of the instructors. They would deal with various aspects, specially attention being devoted to the farming interests. Mr

Belshaw ;tlie resident instructor for j the Coast would Be resuming duty next month, and it was suggested , Mr Belshaw should attend the next . meeting of the Progress League and , put forward a concrete scheme, ihe League moved in this matter last season, but various difficulties rose, and the arrangements fell through. The . .present idea will afford the oppoi- j tunity to reopen the matter, and no doubt the League will be ready bnd willing to join with the mofv eh lent now proposed. It is a matt’r in which the young men of the district should take a special interest, while those on the land will have opportunities of gleaning knowledge about different sides of terming life which will be of service in running success fully the financial side of thair business.