OPDTIK FIRE BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 78, 2 September 1938, Page 2

OPDTIK FIRE BOARD

QUARTERLY MEETING ~ AUXILIARY . BENZINE TANK The quarterly meeting of the Opotiki hire Beard was held m the board's room last niglit. Present : Messrs if. JShort, Cummings, -Wilson, G. S. Moody, J. W- Gordon, Mr G. H. Fleming '(secretary) and Mr J. Slraw (fire brigade superintendent). The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. V

The secretary reported that he had made inquiries re an auxiliary tank for the fire tender but Mr Kidd had stated there was no need for such a tank as the electric petrol pumps fit-tea gave no trouble. The Auckland members disagreed with this view and said the pumps liad been known to give trouble. They had to remember that they werei dependent on only one machine. They wanted 100 per cent, efficiency and it would be a good investment to instal the additional tank. The cost would only be about 30i'-_ It was decided to purchase and havefitted a gravity tank, the matter to be left in the hands of the local committee with power to act. Inward! Correspondence. The Whakatane Fire Board wrote re ladder fitted on the Opotiilc fire tender and asked that particulars of the extension ladder with cost be forwarded. —The secretary said that the required particulars had been forwarded. - The Department of Internal Affairs, wrote approving of the estimates, the amount being £530.

Refund. —-The Collector of Customs wrote forwarding refund of £l7. this representing duty refunded on the fire tender. The secretary stated tlie amount received was £3 more than expected.

The Audit Office wrote enclosing the audited accounts. The clerk of the Local Bodies’ Amalgamation Committee wrote in edition with amalgamation proposals and asked the board to put forward written views.—Mr Cummings moved that the matter be deferred until the views o'f the Wellington committee were received. Seconded' by Mr Short and carried.

The seuperintendent’s report was approved.

A separate report on the fire which occurred in a wood and iron shed owned by Mr Patterson was presented by the superintendent. The report stated that the cause of the fire was unknown, and 1 mysterious. To Puke Demonstration.—On the motion'of Air Gordon, the board decided to vote £5 towards the expenses of the brigade team which will compete at the Bay of Plenty competitions to be held at Te Puke on Labour Day.

Accounts totalling approximately £IG2 were passed for payment.

Fire -Boxes. —In reply to a question by an Auckland member, the superintendent said that about half the fire boxes were in poor order. The board authorised the Auckland members topurchase six boxes from the Auckland Board if available. Store Shed.—The question of the provision of a stoi'e shed' was discussed and it was considered that a building around the‘legs of the tower woidd be too small- It was decided to call tenders for a separate shed of larger dimensions. The shed will be used f° r the storage of fire brigade gear including competition equipment.