PAEROA FIRE BRIGADE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5276, 18 May 1928, Page 2

PAEROA FIRE BRIGADE.

REPORT FROM FIRE COUNCIL-

RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.

The Fire Council reported to t'he Paeroa Borough Counteil meeting last night as follows : — “The Fire Council has discussed the following matters and refers sajne to , the Borough Council for, tion :— “Fire Alarms.—The brigade’s superintendent and his men complain that the present al ( arm system is inadequate. and the Fire Council suggests that some .mechanical devicq for giving the alarm be considered. It is thought that an electrical alarm could be fitted to the present bell, and 1 would give better results. “Sealing of Strip in Front of Brigade Shed—This work was authorised in October of. last year, and the council requests that the work be expedited. '“New Gear—The Fire Council recom mem's that 300 ft of new hose be purchased. This can be indented through, the United Fire Brigades’ Association at a reduced price—about Is 9d a foot. The council also decid” ed to have the new hose fitted with the Ferrule couplings, four, sets being required. These, with an expander, Will cost about £7 10s. “We ask for authority to purchase the gear mentioned.“Fire Plugs.—lt is recommended that the fire-plugs in the streets bej marked with white paint. This is most necessary in the main streets, -> which have been bituminised. We ask the Borough. Council to undertake this work. I ! “New Uniforms.—Several, of the firemen are in urgent need of new uniforms, and it is hoped to procure at least four undress uniforms this year out of the Borough Council grant and public subscriptions. “Street Collections. —At the present time the Fire Council, with the .assistance of the brigade, its conducting a canvass for funds. The result has not been so generous-, as was expected. Up to the presentxabbut £3O hapi been collected, but it is expected that at least £5O will be received. Circular letters have been addressed to absentee landowners asking for contrib- ' utions, rmd it is hoped that donations will be received from houseowners in the borough. In addition to the amount ■ collected, the Fire Council requests that ;a.t least £lOO be' voted by the Borough Council to its. funds.” In moving the adoption of the report Cr. E. Edwards reported that a canvass for funds, had been made and the business people ha.d responded library. A canvass of householders and property-owners had not been so favourably supported. Thq Mayor said he hoped ( that the appeal for funds r would meet with a generous response fipm all sections of the community. In making the appeal he would point out that the borough possessed a very efficient and . capable fire brigade, and that had been the means of considerably reducing the insurance rates, if the public did not support the brigade financially the only other alternative was te form a fire boa.rd, which would mean an increased expendituire to ratepayers.

The report was adopted on the chairman of the Fire Council undertaking that the council, would go further into the question of thq cost of installing an automatic fire alarm.

SECRETARY’S REPORT. In the course of a comprehensive report on fire brigade matters Secretary C. W. Malcolm stated:— “Since the last Fire Council meet" ing the brigade has mustei’ed 22 times, of which six were fires and nine were fire-fighting practices.' The fourteen member® attended on an average of eleven. The prtesent roll of the brigade is as follows : superintendent W. J. Moore, DeputyrSuperintendent E. Moore, Foreman Wilton, Secretary-Motorman C. W. Malcolm/ Firemen W.‘ Ward, C. Rolton, E. A. Martin, H. J. Robinson, C- Nie.l ( d, H. Moore, J. Wright, Scott, T. Burka, and Messenger N. Campbell. “The list of fires is as follows: Friday,, September 9, 1927, a team was comiiiunicated with by phone to stand by at a chimney fire. The engine was taken cut, but no alarm was given. “Wednesday October 12/ a scrub fire in Nahum Street past the school. “Tuesday, November 29, a timber mill on. Thames Road. Firemen had their duties rendered more dangerous through lack of fire-plugs on the main. Since then the brigade ha® tested a standpipe, erected nea.r the racecourse and has found the pressure to be altogether useless. “Friday, February 3, 1928, a good stop at the Commercial Hotel washhouse, and on Tuesday, February 7, a, good stop at Goonan’s residence next the brewery, Queen Street. v “Wednesday, February 29, scrub fire near Le Manquais, Lamb’s mill, and after, endangering trees in Taylor’s Avenue. . “Saturday, March 3, scrub tire near Vacuum Oil Companiy*s tanks. “On Wednesday, March 22, Superintendent Moore paid a surprise visit to the District High School, where fire driß. has been organised by Secretary Malcolm, and a test 'alarm was given. In 34 seconds the whole School was vacated, every window and door, clpsed against draught, and each class, assembled dle'ar of the building, with its teacher prepared to call, the roll/’