Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1920. FOXTON FIRM BRIGADE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2102, 13 March 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1920. FOXTON FIRM BRIGADE.

•AFTER years of agitating, a local lire brigade lias been formed, and some twentv to thirlv residents have

signified their willingness to give their personal sendees voluntarily to cope with outbreaks.- The Borough Council has purchased a chemical engine for first aid purposes, and decided to house the engine. Further than that it does not intend to (proceed —at least, at present. The local public has donated the sum of £SO towards the Brigade’s funds. Foxton inis gained an unenviable notoriety for conflagrations, and the populace have been compelled to stand by and watch the (lames destroy, valuable property, while within a stone’s throw of the main thoroughfare is an unlimited supply of water. We do not desire for oneij moment to depreciate the present' first aid efforts, for we believe it will culminate in a comprehensive lire-lighting scheme so badly needed in a borough ol our dimensions. Captain Hugo, the authority'on this subject, in a report lo tile Council, suggested the formation of a brigade and I Lie purchase of equipment at an approximate cost of £425. After setting forth the details 01. such lirst-aid equipment, he went on to say: •‘Whilst the adoption of the above recommendation will provide a certain degree of protection, ’it should he-clearly understood that the etiieieney range of a lirsl aid equipment is limited, there is a restricted point beyond which it cannot be relied upon to ensure protection from the spread of tire, and for the better protection of the larger risks in the town 1 would recommend that a (ire main be laid, down from the river to and along Alain Street, with a high lift turbine pump worked by either a gas or oil engine installed (.hi the river bank. The pijjes to be of a size-that will tit in with any scheme of water supply that may be adopted in the future.” If this latter recommendation was adopted by the Council ft would safeguard the main thoroughfare, arid the chemical equipment could be used to combat isolated outbreaks in the less cou-

Rested parts of tlic borough. If the scheme is ! o !>e a success the Coun-

ejl must recognise a wider linancial responsibility than that iudieated at last meeting. t