MASTERTON'S FIRE SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9172, 21 August 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON'S FIRE SERVICE.

COMMENTS BY INSPECTOR HUGO. Inspector Hugo submitted to the Masterton Fire Boatf, yesterday, a report on the fire strvice of the borough, in which he said:—(l) The state of efficiency of the Fire Brigade and Fire Police.—As a body the personnel of the Brigade can hardly be improved. They appear to be an active intelligent body of men, of athletic build and good stamina, who seem to take considerable interest in their work. They are, however, badly in need of instruction in drill, in the very primary stops of firo brigade work, most particularly in the important matter of life-saving and preservation, which has hitherto been entirely . neglected. The foregoing remarks will apply to the Fire Police also. (2) Regarding the sufficiency of the fire-fighting equipment, when the fire engine has been put into gooj order, and the 500 feet of new hose provided for in your estimate has been obtained the brigade will have a fairly efficient plant, with the exception that a couple of hand pumps with stirrups of the "London Fire Brigade" pattern should be procured. In reference to the high I pressue water supply, this is a very s \vea!c point in the fire protection of your district, the average pressure of soibs being too low to be of good service at a (ire of any magnitude. The necessity is therefore urgent of having the fire engine put into good order as soon as possible and reserving it for fire purposes only. The reticulation is bad on account of the large number of three-inch mains at present laid down. Nothing less than four-inch mains should be put in for fire purposes.

Regarding the instillation of a system of fire alarms, a modification of the Gamewell system is the moat economical and reliable. This system has been in use in Wellington for the past seven years, and in Melbourne for a long period, giving excellent results.

Re the question of a motor.engine. Seeing that the Board's estimate for the year is very high, and that it would make your next year's estimate very high if the capital cost of the motor were provided in one year, I ail vise that this matter be held over, especially as consideration has been promised of an amendment of the Act giving the Fire Board power to borrow money, and thus enable capital expenditure to extend over a period of years.