MASTERTON FIRE BOARD

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 12 February 1913, Page 4

MASTERTON FIRE BOARD

COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting oi' (ho Masterton Firo Board Committee was held <*t noon yesterday, there being present— Messrs 6. N. C. Praguell*(chairman), J. M. Coradine and J. P. Prentice. An apology for absences was received from Mr J. Ewington. A report was read-from Superintendent T. Jenkins in reference fo> tho tire in Walton avenue on Monday, morning. Tho report stat-od that the 'brigade arrived at the scene of tho firo only to find the water-supply very defective, and the pressure totally inadequate to cope with the outbreak. Only one lead was iwed, tlio pressure being very feeble. Tho whole of the t'wn supply had beeii concentrated to the vicinity of the fire, and this caused some little improvement, but the pressure still remained very low. tho pressure at thet hydrant being 2-"> pounds, and at tho ; branch 14 pounds, with 200 feet of i hose and a tlu'ee-quarter inch nozzle. The vsteam fire engine had been takn out, but owing to certain instructions not having been oatried: out, there was considerable delay in getting up steam. This was responsible for tho engine not Arriving until 22 minutes after. tho alarm was given. In regard to the fire-bell, the pressure was 351bs a.t tho Centra] Station when the alarm was given, but this proved insufficient. Tho sunerintendent recommended that a Pelton wheel and ringing genr complete be secured at a erst of about £lB 15s. The 'Secretary was instructed to give definite instructions to have the gas •fire (kept (continuously u,mlor ,t-he Jubilee fire engine during the summer season, and to light tho tire under the boiler in tho event of an alarm before leaving tho station, •Tt was decided to have a Pelton wheel as recommended, provided the contractor undertakes that before ! payment is made a test of. tho hell ringing at 2olhs pressure to the satisfaction of tho Board is given. A letter was received from tho Mastorton Trust Lands Trustees asking for a rental of £ls per year for the Kuripuni Fire 'Station, the lease of which had recently expired. Tlio members of tho Board considered that a rental of £lO per year (would he sufficient, and the secretary 'was instructed to write to that effect. The question cf sending a delegate to tho Fire Boards' Conference, to be held in Christ-church on tho 2otTE inst, was left in the hands of the chairman. It was decided to leave matters relating to the borough water-supply in the hands of the Borough Council, representatives on the Board, as the question 'was being gone into by the Council.