13

H.—6a.

Plant and Equipment. Light handy hose carts or reels, with a hydrant and supply of hose, should be placed in the hose-reel sheds mentioned above, with one of the 25 ft. ladders at present in the main station at each place. A set of strong light 10 ft. coupling-ladders are required at the main station, also a couple of hand-pumps fitted with stirrups. I understand that arrangements have been made to supply a horse immediately upon an alarm of fire, and that should be sufficient for present requirements in that direction. Water Reticulation, Pressure, and Supply. The reticulation of your town is an excellent one, well designed and carried out, and the proposed extensions are in keeping with the original design. The average pressure —901b., rising to 1301b. when required—is very good. Hitherto the best results have not been obtained, owing to the nozzles used having been on the small side. The stationary fire-engine, with its reticulation and hydrants, should be maintained in good working-order ready for immediate use in case of any sudden failure of the high-pressure system. The hydrant-indicators require attention. Each hydrant should be systematically and clearly marked. The fire service on board the dredge " John Townley " would prove a valuable auxiliary in case of a large fire in the neighbourhood of the water-front. I have, &c, Thomas T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. F. dimming, Esq., Secretary, Gisborne Fire Board, Gisborne. Sir, — Office of Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 22nd February, 1909. I have the honour to forward, for the information of your Board, a report in connection with my recent visit of inspection, and dealing with the general efficiency of your brigade. At 7.25 p.m. on Thursday, the 11th instant, I rang the fire-bell in Gladstone Road, and directed the brigade to get to work with one delivery at a spot in Grey Street about 300 yards distant from the station. Water was shown full on at 7.29.24 p.m. The brigade was mustered at 7.35 p.m., when it was found that the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and sixteen firemen were in attendance. At the inspection on the following night, at 8 p.m., the Superintendent, Deputy, and nineteen men answered the roll-call; two were absent on duty, and one on leave: twenty-four in all accounted for. The time from the first toll of the bell, at 7.25 p.m., until water was shown—4 minutes 24 seconds —was satisfactory, and the work was carried out smartly. The plant turned out was in accordance with the order given. The muster of the brigade—viz., two officers and sixteen firemen—at 7.35 p.m., or 10 minutes from the time of first call, was very satisfactory, particularly so seeing the bell is so badly cracked that it can only be heard within a very small radius, and proves that the members of the brigade take an active interest in the work. The attendance on the following night was also very satisfactory. Upon inspection, I find the plant and appliances are maintained in good order. Referring to the recommendations contained in my report dated the Bth October, 1908, I find that up to the present no horse has been available for the purpose of taking the plant to a fire, although I understood that arrangements were then being made for the supply of one when required, and I would strongly recommend that this should be done without further delay; also, the hand-pumps and coupling-ladders should be obtained. I would again call your attention to the necessity of placing small hose-reel sheds, equipped with hose carts or reel, ladders, &c, in the Kaiti and Whataupoko districts; also, the plug-indi-cators require attention. I have, &c, Thomas T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. F. Gumming, Esq., Secretary, Gisborne Fire Board, Gisborne. GREYMOUTH. Sir, —■ Office of Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 14th June, 1909. In reply to your letter dated the 7th instant, addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs, and asking for copies of Inspector Hugo's reports on the Greymouth Fire Brigade, I have the honour to forward you a report in connection therewith. On Monday evening, the 19th April, at 7.8 p.m., at the Boundary Street Fire-station, I gave an alarm for a supposed fire located at the corner of Mawhera Quay and Tainui Street. The hosereel, ladder-carriage, and steamer arrived at the spot very promptly. The first water was shown from a hydrant off the high-pressure main at 7.11.20 p.m., 3 minutes 20 seconds from time of call. This result was very satisfactory. The first delivery was got to work from the fire-engine at 7.21.14 p.m., 13 minutes 14 seconds from time of call. This was a fairly good result. The subsequent drills and demonstrations were carried out smartly and methodically, and there appears to be distinct improvement in the working of the brigade when compared with my previous visit of inspection in September, 1908.