LANDROVER FIRE ENGINE

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 5 August 1955, Page 6

LANDROVER FIRE ENGINE

It has been polnted out by the Mayor, Mr J. E. Story, that the short report, in last week's Taupo Times, of the public meeting held to discuss Fire Brigade matters, did not iuclude reference to the trailer pump which was part of the new Landrover fire engine's equipment. This pump, which was already in hand, was easily manoeuvred by two men, said Mr Story, and could pump water from any tank or other source within several liundred yards of a fire. This provided an additional firefighting aid, and tlie new Landrover outfit was thus not restricted entirely to the 40 gallons supply carried in the Landrover itself. It was true that, in the summer, there were often occasions when tanks might be low in water, or even empty, but on the other hfind not all tanks would be in this condition. And in many cases to-day, houses were not as far from other houses as formerly. Even if the Landrover's water supply were exhausted, therefore, there would often be cases where further water was available for the trailer pump towed by the Landrover. An important point about the Landrover, Mr Story said, was the fact that the pressure of its water jet was considerably greater than that of the old "Mule's," and the 40-gallon supply was thus much more efiicient than the same amount of water pumped from the "Mule," as Mr Varley, Chief Dominion Fire Service Officer, had said. Consideration of these points, said the Mayor, led him to feel that the new Landrover engine and its equipment, when it arrived and was demonstrated, would be found a great improvemenf on the Brigade's present outfit. Mr Story went on to sav tliat he agreed that it would be a good idea to have the old "Mule" left with the Brigade. It had been stated that it would not be issued to any other Brigade, and there seemed no reason why it should not, therefore, be retained as a stand^by water supply until such time as the municipal water supply scheme was carried out. Mr Story concluded by saying that he hoped the committee set up would receive a good response to its forthcoming appeal for contributions to the Brigade's funds. The Brigade members were keen and deserved every encouragement and lielp possible.