A FIRE ALARM.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1924, Page 2

A FIRE ALARM.

A sH.NSF.I.FS's mWiiAGK. Tile iitebcl! rang nut .t vigor '!:- ahum ell Snmtav morning at ■1.20 o'clock, the i ati-e being ill No 1 station itself. The nightwalelu'.iin i:t the l.ell-towrr -no snmke coming out ol the -tatimi id'll null promptly gave tin- alarm. An in-vc-tigation sliowi»sl that tlte -team fire engine had h:*cu taut. t red with by -mne per-ou unknown, with the result 1 lint the engine t- out ol action.

Tile blow-off cock of the steam cll.rjne hud I.' -i turned on. with the result that ali the water in the boiler in I* mu mi to the iluiir. It is always rustomnry to have the lift* laid in the firebox ready for an alarm, ihi- is always saturated with kerosene t t enable steam t i be got tip qu'ckl". ’lb:-' fit' l ' was limn lit ami l.laxed awav merrily till the firemen arrived ami 'drew out. the iir\

It was then found litai as a result of the water Icing drawn ol!' the boiler Hint the Mnntzen tube- in the boiler had melted mu thus making the steam engine useless until repair; are elicited. This will entail a serious delay, as it i- expected that rt will he necessary to -.01.1 1.. Knghind lor now- tubes. At pre-cut tlie engine is tiring tli-mantlco 1o enable the boiler to be inspected. The [lrigade mu-tered in lull force under Sutit. Draddeti and tliep* were general expression- o! di-gust and annoyance at the wanton action ol the miscreant which has re.-tilted in -uch suh-taiitial damage being dune to .he tire-lighting gear. At present titer" ino cine U> tite penietrator.

Tlie Fire l’.rigade plant i- in-uted for e 1 GDI I in the Guardian Insurance Office. \ s|:ecial meeting of the hire Doatd will he held -Imitly in connection with tlte matter.