The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper oh the West Coast. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1886. FIRE INSPECTORS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1680, 9 April 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper oh the West Coast. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1886. FIRE INSPECTORS.

It would have been extremely .improper had the Borough Council appointed the Captain of the Fire Brigade to the position of Fire Inspector!. The holding of the dual positions by one • person was never intended by the Act, and would have been m the last degree impolitic and indiscreet. Clause > 273 of the > Act applies to the manner of the appointment of Fire Inspectors, which is not material to the present issue. Clause 274< sets forth the powers held by that official as follows: — A Fire Inspector may, on ' the occasion of any fire occurring m the Borough, do the' following things: 1. He may take the command of any Fire Brigade or other persons who by previous agreement with the Council have placed their services at the disposal of the Council or who for the/time place lthemselres at his disposal. 2. He may order any person engaged m extinguishing the fire (hereinafter called a " fireman ") or any constable to remove any persons who by their presence or otherwise howsoever interfere with or impede the labors oi the Fire Brigade or other fireman m extinguishing the fire. •3. He may take any measures he , thinks best for the protection of life Uhd property. 4. tie may with any assistance he requires break into take possession of or pull down any "premises for preventing the spread of fire, doing, however, as little damage as possible thereby. 5. He may interfere with the supply of water m the waterworks as he thinks fit, m order to get a greater supply or pressure m the neighborhood of the fire, and no penalty, damages, or claim for compensation shall be recoverable by or against any person m consequence of any act done under the authority of this section. Clause 276 is as follows: — All damage to property caused by any Fire. Inspector or any person acting under his orders m the due execution of their orders under this Act shall be deemed to be damage by fire within the meaning of any policy of insurance against fire, anything m such policy to the contrary notwithstanding. It will thus be seen how exceedingly improper and injudicious would have been the appointment of the captain of the Fire Bri gade to the position of Fire Inspector, as it would be manifestly impossible for the duties of the two positions to be discharged by one and the same individual. The Fire Inspector would require to be some person quite independent of the Fire Brigade, who can, when necessary, exercise the powers given him with discretion, tact, determination, and intelligence, and whose authority will be acknowledged by the public, as well as by the Fire Brigade and its captain, as superior to that of ; any other person m any similar ca-

pacity on the occasion of a fire occurring. It is clear that the intention of the Act is that the positions of Fire Inspector and captain of the Brigade shall be held by different persons, and it is satisfactory to note that a majority of the Council took a similar view of the matter.