FIRE BRIGADE MATTERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4288, 30 November 1892, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE MATTERS.

The. Albert-street Floodgate. The Fire Brigades Committee of the Mastcrton Borough Council met last night, after the Gas Committee meeting, the same Councillors being present. Captain Pickering attended; and explained that on the night of the fire at Mr C. T. Natusch's residence, a delay was caused through the gate which supplies Mr Carey's lead being down and fastened with a three inch screw and some' fencing wire. The previous night, when practising, the Brigade found the gate padlocked and broke the lock as a protest, Mr Carey had applied to him (Captain Pickering) asking for a letter to the effect that no delay had been caused and that tho gate was down. He was uuablo to give tho letter asked for, as although the gate wus down when ho readied it the water was somo time accumulating. He did not wish Mr Carey to lose tho right of using the water, but thought it necessary, thai the agreement to lower the gate at night ho kept, and if padlocked in the daytime that keys be supplied to the Fivo Brigade,

The Committee decided to recommend that Mr Carey be notified finally that if the gate to his lead is not pat down every night, the permission to use the water will be cancelled, and also that he be asked to provide three extra keys to tho padlock for the use of tho Fire Brigades, Captain Pickering reported that in the case of Engine-keeper Smith being at work a long distance away, in the event, of a. fire breaking out, there was no one to drive the engine, He had had three men learning to drive the engine at various times, but thoy all went The Committee, after discussiun, decided to recommend the Council to procure a horse and dray for corporation work, and to employ a man to look after it who shall also be engine driver,,,