COUNCIL AND FIRE BRIGADE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2110, 1 April 1920, Page 3

COUNCIL AND FIRE BRIGADE.

• QUESTION OF STATION SITE. COMMITTEE TO REPORT. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Tuesday night to meet members of the Eire Brigade and discuss the question of the most suitable site for the fire station and other matters in connection with the Brigade. The Mayor and all the Councillors were present, and about 14 members of the Fire Brigade were also in attendance. The Mayor expressed pleasure on behalf of the Council to have the opportunity of meeting members of the Brigade, and said that the very excellent'work they had done daring the ’past week was deserving of very special praise indeed, and he assured I hem the people were exceedingly grateful for what they had done. The cost of building was tremendous at present, and when it was taken into consideration that the Brigade had saved upwards of CoJKKI Wurth of property, it was really wonderful. The meeting was convened to discuss the cpicstion of the housing of the engine. The present engine was only a start, and sometime Inter they would perhaps get something better. It was never intended to deal with a large fire, ha! was purely a first-aid equipment. The Mayor said he strongly resented the destructive criticism that had been levelled a( the scheme by some citizens. Everything had lo have a start, Mr Perreau said that .a meeting of the Brigade had been held earlier in Iho evening., and while members knew they bad a very fine lit lie engine, they felt they wanted some-

thing better. He understood the Council had been offered a donhle- ( vlinder machine that had been used in Taihape prior to the installation of a high-pressure water supply there, for £l5O, and the Brigade asked that the Council should seriously coii.-ider the question of purchasing same. In reference lo the erection of the station, the Brigade asked that same should he creeled on (he tire-hell site, and tailing that site, that the building should be erected in Main Street. The members were strongly opposed to the Hall Street site, and be was afraid that if the Council insisted on same it would dampen the enthusiasm of members lo some extent. M.r AicColl said that the Brigade wa.- unanimous on the lirebell site. Tliev considered the Hall Street site was (no far-away. Mr A. Stevenson said they didn t consider Hall Sired a! all suitable. !l would he much more diilicii!l to e;ei ilie engine out from there. They suggested that the (ire siren should be erected on the lop of the Town Hal!. Cr. Ale. Murray said that there was ample room for a. shed on the firebel 1 site. The section was 33ft. hy tUft. The Mayor said he didn’t know whether ihe land in question was 1 lie properly of Ihe Borough or not. He rea.llv thought it belonged lo the .li : .s!ice Department, being part ol ihe Court House section. Pcrmmal!v, ho felt so grateful to Ihe Brigade iHai he would say put it where they asked, but the Council must think of the future. Whilst ihe section might he big enough for (heir present requirements, later on more room might lie required, and the building, would (hen have to he removed. There was plenty of room mi ilie Hall Street .section, with the further advantage that it was outside the brick area, whereas the tirehell site was not. Tic didn't hnow of any suitable section in Alain Street except possibly portion of the seelion recently purchased from Air Collins. Mr Perreau said that Brigade members thought Ihe section next die Council Chambers, on the smith side, might suit. The Mayor; What about the >oclimi on Ihe east side of the Town Hal!.' Cr, MeAlurray said lhal was also in Ihe brick area. Even if (he lirebell site was Government properly he fell sure they would he. prepared to hand, it over to the Conned for a lire brigade station. Cr. Brvant said he could m>|. see whv it was necessary to have the station in Alain Street. In the cities they were not in (he centre of the town. It was quite possible that a water scheme would be installed locally in the future, and when this was done up-to-date tire-fighting appliances would be procured, and ;i much bigger building might bu required. There would not be sui'lieirnl room on the tireboll site, but there was any amount of space on ihe Hall Street section, which he considered was quite central enough. Cr. Thompson said that whilst the lire brigade would never he of any service to him lie was anxious to help it along. He was not in favour of the Hall Street site, and considered that if the firebell site could not ho obtained, that perhaps the Council could provide a site on the section purchased from Air Collins. The Alayor said that lie was quite witling to have the station erected on the. firebell site if the laud belonged to the Council, or if the Government would vest it in the Council. Failing (hat, ho favoured the Hall Street she. As Cr. Bryant had pointed mat, fire stations were rarely placed in the centre ot the town. Air Pereran said that in considering a site near the Council Chamber Die Brigade bad in mind the possibility of fires in (lie liaxinills. Air A. X. Smith said that the Brigade as a whole was absolutely against the Hall Street site. The Alayor said that they would take a note of what the Brigade required, and consider same after the

members had retired. Mr Perreau said that the Brigade considered a double cylinder engine was necessary. Cr. McMurray said that if there had been two engines at Saturday night’s fire it could have been controlled, what was wanted was two leads of hose. The Mayor said that people seemed to forget that at present ours was not even a properly equipped first aid equipment. Captain Hugo’s recommendations included hand pump, extinguishers, collapsible buckets, etc., which were really of more consequence than the engine. The Council jinderstood the Brigade was going to provide these. Mr Ale Col I said the Brigade expected the Council to provide same. Cr. Parkin said the Brigade did not have the money with which to purchase this equipment. Air Perreau said they must be fair in ibis matter, and lhe Brigade must lake a certain amount of responsibility for not having obtained the equipment. The Council certainly notified them (hat they expected the Brigade to get this equipment, but owing to the Brigade secretary being away, and other matters to attend to, they had been unable to get to.gether to authorise the purchase of same. The Alayor said that the Council supplied the engine, and understood the Brigade would buy the appliances. Mr 11. Hamer said the Brigade had purchased half a ton of acid, and he did not think their funds were sufficient to buy the rest of the equipment. The Mayor said the Council would be prepared lo fully equip the Brigade. Cr. McMurray said he thought there had been some misunderstanding'. This was a borough matter, and he considered the Council should supply all that was necessary. Cr Coley suggested raising a loan for this purpose. Air P. Robinson said (hat one of the Brigade members had been rather severely burned with acid from ihc engine, and was at present confined to his bed. Cr. Coley suggested that these men should be insured immediately. The Town Clerk said that the Council could nol'do this, as they were not their employees. All' Perreau said (be Brigade also wanted the Council to supply a wrecking plant. Mr McCoil said lie'considered they should also discuss, the question of a wafer and drainage scheme that night. The Mayor said he intended convening a public meeting to discuss water and drainage. At this stage, the members of the Brigade, after thanking the Council for receiving them, withdrew. Cr. Bryant said the first thing for the Council to do was to consider ways and means. Cr. Coley said that only portion of ilia ratepayers would benefit by the Briga.de, and therefore Ihe whole of llie ratepayers should not be lilted. About 11)13 a scheme for protection against lire was placed before I lie Main Street property owners, but not one of them had the courtesy lo reply to the Councils letter.

The Mayor said dial }>t*i‘oj’4* any loan proposal could la* put a new roll would hg.ve to he prepared. Cr. Bryant asked if it would not he heller to go into die whole thing’ —water and drainage, fire prevention and anything else necessary — and make one poll do tor die whole lot. it was decided to have a new ratepayers’ roll prepared. Cr. Hum suggested die selling: up of a committee of three to confer with three members of the Fire Brigade on the site question, and any other mailer requiring attention, and report at next Council meeting, submitting also plans and estimates of cost of building. This suggestion was agreed to, and the following committee was set up: Crs. limit, Bryant and McMurray. The Council decided to purchase the balance of the lirsl aid equipment recommended by Captain Hugo, also Hremen’s axes and hells, a, wrecking plant, scaling ladder, and a siren similar to that in use at Olaki.