FIRE BRIGADES' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 43, 27 February 1901, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADES' CONFERENCE.

[PBU PBRBB ABSOUTION. | CnaisTcnDßcn, febrnary 25. Superintendents Smit> and Gilberd to-day submitted to thelonferenoe a report en their visit tt the International Congress of Fireßriradei in Path last year. Tjoy suggested the Government should take statistics and hold enqiirie&fnto all fires. With regard to fire pretax - tion a great deal would be effecteofg buildings were constructed on fi.*. resisting, instead of as at present beingv built so ps to ensure rapid combution ( * Provision should also be made to prevent fires spreading by carrying partition walls right np to the ro»f, by/ ca-ing with beat-resisting materials, I iron columns supporting floors, and by laying of floors at a slight grade to allow water to get away tkrongh openings at the lower side. Skylights should ba properly protected from falling flakes of tire; openings for hoist* should ba properly protected, as they are a great help to fires spreading by causing a strong draught to all floor*, Provision should also be made fop facilitating the work of firemen by ladders going right on the roof. Want of care in the fitting of steam, g»», and heating pipe*, and in allowing accumulation of rubbish and ss forth is responsible for much loss by fire, which, p.opdr iuspcciion might prevent. It should be the duty of nil officers to urge on tha authorities the necessity for a, loliable shrra system. Tho report strongly advises the use of chemjoal engines, which are now ouly in use in Christsburch. A number of improvements in fire plugs and hydrants an suggested. A feature of fire prevention in older countries that might with profit bo adopted here is the regular inspection of big risks by firemen. With regard to tho cost the delegates found that in the United States the cost of maintaining fire brigadf s in the smaller towns is about 2s a head while in New York it ranges from 2s 6d to 5s 3d. In New Zealand the cost now here exceeds Is a head, while in seme pl*ces it falls below 6d. To* delegates consider it is worth consideration whether greater expenditure would l not ba more economical in the end, [The report draws attention to the> advantages of giving mors instruction, to young firemen.