WANTED —PROTECTION FROM FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, 21 January 1905, Page 2

WANTED —PROTECTION FROM FIRE.

A SUGGESTION. TO THE EDITOR OP THE MANAWATU HERALD. Sir, —I have waited for an abler pen than mine to take up the subject of Fire Extinguishing in Foxton, but now that the dry weather is upon us, it behoves us to make a move, if anything is to be done this season. I will only make a few suggestions, and let someone, more of an engineer than myself, fill in between the lines. First, I would advise that some of the tradespeople of the township should ask the Insurance Companies to give a second-hand Manual Fire Engine, as I have no doubt but that there are some now to be had almost for the asking, that could be stored in a small shed, near the centre of the town, and, with it, some of those hand gas Fire Extinguishers, (one of which is to be seen at the Post Office Hotel); but of course I know that a large steam fire engine is best, but we must Crawl before we can walk. The next questions Will be the water supply, but while we are dismissing the pros and cons of different schemes a lire rttdy break out, that may lead to very serious consequences in town. If we had the hand engine on the spot it is quite possible that it might be stopped, if it was not too far gone, by taking the engine to the ( rear of the premises on fire, and putting the suction hose into first one tank and then another. I think that had that been done at the fire at Westwood’s store much could have been saved.

For in immediate supply of water, that is, previous to supplying the whole town with drinking water, I would suggest that a concrete tank should be made (like they have in Christchurch), and sunk on that vacant section, next the Post Office, where the engine shed could also be built. The tank could be kept filled either by damming the little Awahou stream and pumping it from there into the concrete tank, or by laying airtight pipes into the river along the bed of the creek, and using a small oil or steam force pump. Again, a little nearer the fiver the ground is lower, the pipes could be laid so as to be lower than low water, so that the river would always flow into a tank or well, and could be pumped directly therefrom. Now comes the question of how far the engine could pump the water to be effective; but that in a measure could be overcome by having _ two engines, one to pump the water into the cask or vessel that the one at the fire is pumping from. One engine might be given by the Insurance Companies and the other bought by subscription. I am, &c. F. Deßidder, Foxton, Jan. 21st, 1905.