NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 224, 27 October 1909, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BOARD

I'lio first annual report and balancesheet of the New I'lyiuoulli lure Hoard, up to June ilUtii, I'JUSJ, is before us. The Hoard comprises .Messrs. C. E. Bcllringer (appointed by Hie Covernmonl), I<\ P. Cur Kill, J. I'uton, and E. P. Webster tappointed by tile insurauce companies), J. W. lloon, W, A. (Jollis, and E. DocKrill (appointed by the Borough Council). The Board took over from tne Borough Council the buildings and plant' of the various lire stations. The amount to lie paid for the buildings and plant was assessed at £2100,' and liiis is payable in twenty-six instalments of £lO5 each. The' revenue comprised £22!) 3s Id from the Borough Council, £22!) 3.s from the insurance companies, and £SO from the Government. Expenditure was £509 4s 4d, inclusive of salaries £SO 8s 4d, superintendent's travelling expenses £5, telephones £22 0s 2d. electric light £2O Ids, maintenance £SO ltis 3d, new hose and reel £0 lis 3d, annual instalment to Borough Council £lO5. Tile superintendent's report was as follows: " I have the honor to submit niv first annual report, to the Board for the year ending .lime 30th, 11)09, on the working of your llrigade nod matters connected therewith. The present strength of the brigade is as folows—-|}e|Mly-»ii|K'riiiti'iidenl, lour furciuei, twenty firemen, and five auxiliaries. The attendance and discipline of tlie brigade has been maintained. There 'have been no accidents to members other than minor cuts and burns. J am pleased to he able to report that there were no fires of any magnitude during the year. The number of calls to fires or supposed fires was 11, a decrease of two compared with hist year. Of this number one was a false alarm by the Inspec-tor-Cencral of Fire Brigades, and the remaining ten were due to various causes and were actual fires. Included is one which took place at the petroleum works, Moturoa, anil another of grass and rubbish at the Catholic Church property. The approximate insiirancc on property attended was £17,000, and the loss 011 same as far as could be ascertained £3250. The working gem- and appliances arc all in good order, aud to have a reasonable hope of successfully confining a fire the brigade should be able to locate the fire plugs at ouee on arrival, for in a wooden town such as New Plymouth every minute is valuable, and everything may depend on these minutes. I would suggest that the Board draw the attention of the Borough Council to this, with a view to a better state of affairs. 1 have already recommended the Board to procure an additional 750 feet of hose and the necessary couplings; this, with the present stock, should meet all requirements. A new hose reel with rubber tyres has been added to the plant and placed at the West Station, and the reel previously at the West has been located at the outer East .Station. The members of the brigade are working heartily, and the best of feeling exists between the officers and men, the members realising the responsible work required of them in keeping down lire loss, and I trust that the work of the brigade lias been curried out to the satisfaction of I lie Hoard. I have '■ thank Dr. K. F. Fooke.-' for valuable hstruction given in lectures to the members during the year, and the police for assistance at fires."