NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1921, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. - • The annual meeting of the New Ply- I mouth Fire Board was held last week. j Present: Messrs. W. C. Weston (Govern-.! merit representative, in the chair), K. G. • Archer, Hugh Baily, D. Le Oren Morgan ■ (fire insurance representatives), Frank ‘ E. Wilson, E. Dingle, W. Rumball (New ' Plymouth Borough Council t represent'^-. tives), 'Superintendent F. C. Bellringer. ; and L. M. Monteath (secretary). ; j The following report from- the superintendent (Mr. F. C. Bellringer), was adopted— » / Alarm ’System.—The Duplex'’ fire alarm system consists of two Circuits and 22 call points, and the additional call points are authorised and will be in use within the next few days. One. will be placed at each bf the following places:—• Wee town, Vogeltown and Moturoa. There are also five electric call bells placed in firemen’s private residences. The board will require to consider the question of increasing this number in the near future. The personnel of the brigade is now: Superintendent, deputy-superintendent, two foremen, two motormen and 18 firemen. At the Fitzroy station: Captain, lieutenant, foreman, and 12 firemen. Inspection of Buildings.—The build-' ings used as places of public amusement have been inspected and reported on. Two buildings on which the reports were not favorable still continue to be opened to the public, viz., Whiteley Church and the Coronation Hall. Wharf Protection.—Never before in the history of New Plymouth have the wharf and adjacent buildings been subjected to such possible risks as now occur from fire. Large ocean liners are continually arriving with consignments of volatile oil, and although the board is not responsible for the protection of this property, provision should be made by someone to reduce, as far as possible, the risk of a fire. Storage of Inflammable Oils.—With the direct shipments of inflammable oils, the method adopted by the Railway Department of placing such large quantities in the railway yards, near to the goods sheds and private warehouses, calls for strong comment. It would only require a small mishap to start a fire i such as would cause considerable surprise, and it would be asking jour brigade to do the impossible in combatting u benzine conflagration. 1 urgently recommend that an endeavor be made to remove this class of cargo more speedily, in order that when the inevitable occurs the loss will not be so utterly disastrous to the town. lam pleased to notice that several of the motor garage proprietors are now installing underground storage for motor spirit. I trust that in time it will be compulsory when I large storage in our central block shall be underground. The number of rateable properties in the Fire Board area arc 5623, with a capital value of £2,051,814, and an unimproved value of £1,211,857. EXPLOSIVES IN DWELLINGS. The Superintendent (Mr. F. C. Bellringer) reported as under:— l have to bring under the notice of the board that during the progress of the fire at the residence of Mr. Gardiner, Avenue Road, lan explosion of considerable magnitude took place. Upon investigation I found the remains of a German 5.9 field gun shell, which caused the commotion. I submit that souvenirs of this nature should not be allowed to be kept, unless under proper regulations, and that the Fire Department should be acquainted by the owhers of the number possessed. I suggest that this shell be sent on to the Government Inspector of Fire Brigades for his report and, if necessary, he to take up the question with the Defence Department. I make this request in the interests of the men. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to members of the brigade. Mr. W. C. Weston was re-appointed chairman for the ensuing year. The estimates for the year were dealt with, and it was decided to appoint a second permanent man at the fire station.