MASTERTON FIRE BOARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9090, 15 May 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON FIRE BOARD.

A meeting of the Masterton Fire Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening, there being present Messrs O. Pragnell (chairman), J. Pauling, J. C. Ewii.'gtnn, W. Morris, R. M. Simpson, C. A. Ewen, J. J. J. Mallard. A letter was received from the Palmerston North Fire Brigade in reference to a deputation to wait on the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding amendments to the Fire Brigade Act. The chairman and secredeputed to attend the conference on buhalf of the Masterton Fire Board.

It was decided to write and ask the Borough Council if they would be prepared to hand over to the Board £2OO allotted for electric fire alarms, the money to be repaid to the Council in the manner provided in the Act.

The Committei of the Board reported as follows: — Your Committee held three meetings, besides interviewing officers of Fire Brigade, Fire Police and others. Valuations of properties and plant have been obtained and are attached hereto. Estimates of requirements and expenditure for fire services for the year are also attached. With respect to real estate, we have to report that no Firo Brigade land or buildings are possessed in fee simple by the Masterton Borough Council. The Council holds two leaseholds, one the Central Fire Station site, which is a Fire Brigade Station, small cottage for the custodian, outbuildings and stables. This lease is held from the Trust Trustees at a yearly rental of £l7 10s, the land is 66ft by 132 ft deep. The Council has no interest in the buildings. Lease has about five years to run. The other is about a quarter-acre at Kuiipuni with a Fire Station thereon —rental Is per annum. This has three years to run, and the Council has no interest in the building. There is also a hose reel shed and fire bell on a privately owned section in Lincoln Road, kept there by courtesy of the owner only. We have interviewed the Trust Lands Trustees with referencs to any fresh arrangements that the Board might wish to consider, and attached is the reply. A plan of one section (72) is presented herewith, and the Chairman of the Trust will attend to give any further information that you may require. An offer of a freehold section is also attached. With regard to the Fire Police and Salvage Corps Station, there is no leasts or title, merely occupanacy by the corps under the Council, rent free. The land is held by the Council in trust for Public Library purposes, and is not alienable. A letter from the Council on the subject is attached. Your Committee invited applications as follow?: Superintendent, at £SO per ar.num; deputy superintendent, at £25 per annum; engine driver and stationkeeper, at £SO per annum, with free cottage and gas. The applications will be presented to you with a recommendation that the present Fire Brigade Captain, Mr T. Jenkins, bp appointed Superintendent. The other appoiontments arc referred to the full Board to make, as the Committee is somewhat divided in opinion as to the most fitting applicant. The matter of leasehold or freehold promises was held "over till the next meeting of the Committee to make further enquiries and report.

It was decided that a Fire Police and Salvage Corps be established under the Board, the matter of the equipment of the Salvage Corps to be reported on by the lccal committee.

It was decided that no portion of the plant be hired out. A motion was passed adopting a seal for the Fire Board,and appointing the office of the secretary the office of the Buavd.

It was left to the Chairman to convene the annual meeting of the Board, which is to be held in June.

Appointments were made as follows : Superintendent, Mr Thos. Jenkins; deputy superintendent, M»A. H. Pickering; engine driver and custodian, Mr J. Stewart. The estimates for the year amounting to £1,153 5s Sd were adopted.

It was decided that Mr P. L. Holhngs be appointed solicitor for the Board.