2

2

Hokitika: November 16, 1911; March 20, 1912. Lawrence: September 26, 1911; February 6, 1912. Maori Hill: September 22, 1911; February 1, 1912. Masterton : November 9, December 18 and 19, 1911; June 7, 1912. Milton: September 25, 1911; February 5, 1912. New Plymouth: August 30, 1911; January 17 and 18, 1912. Fitzroy: May 22, 1912. Oamaru : September 20, 1911; January 30, 1912. Palmerston North: December 11, 1911; May 14, 1912. Petone : December 15, 1911; January 26 and June 21, 1912. Rotorua : June 28, 1912. Whangarei : November 30 and December 1, 191.1; April 23 and 24, 1912. At the conclusion of each inspection drill any faults shown whilst carrying out the work, or any defects in the appliances in use, were pointed out, and a short address delivered on various matters in connection with fire-brigade work. In addition to the above-mentioned statutory inspections, following upon the request of the various bodies interested, and with the sanction of the Minister of Internal Affairs, special visits have been paid as follows : — Lower Hutt : July 6, 1911—Inspection and report upon the safety of public buildings in the borough. Palmerston North: July 19, 1911.—Annual meeting. Wanganui : July 28, 1911 —Annual meeting. Ruakura : October 19 and November 25, 1911—Government Experimental Farm: Inspection and report upon fire protection for the building on the estate. Ashburton : October 24 and 25, 1911—Inspection and report upon the efficiency of the brigade, the water-supply, and fire protection of the borough. Petone: November 21, 1911—Inspection and report upon suitability of competition - plans for the proposed new central fire-station.' , Hamilton : November 23 and 24, 1911—Inspection and report upon the efficiency of the brigade, the water-supply, and fire protection of the borough. Waipukurau : December 19 and 20, 1911—Inspection and report upon the establishment of a brigade, the water-supply, and fire protection of the borough. Petone: January 12, 1912 —Conference with Fire Board. Rotorua: March 3 to 5, 1912 —United Fire Brigades Association Annual Conference: Address delivered to the delegates on matters affecting fire-brigade work and practical demonstration concerning defectively constructed nozzles. Ohakune : April 29, 1912—Inspection and report upon the safety of public halls, the water-supply, and fire protection of the borough. Christchurch : May 2, 1912.—Conference with Fire Board. Weraroa : May 13, 1912. —Government Experimental Farm : Report upon fire protection of the buildings there situated. New Plymouth: May 21 to 23, 1912—Conference with Fire Board, inspection and report . upon fire protection for Greater New Plymouth. Moumahaki: May 24, 1912 —Government Experimental Farm : Report upon fire protection for the buildings on the estate. Arataki : June 6, I.9l2—Government Experimental Farm : Report upon fire protection. In all a total of sixty-two visits was paid, and, in addition, a number of reports dealing with fire-protection matters, including- new station plans, has been furnished to different local bodies, specifications drawn up for new machines, supervision exercised over the manufacture of new appliances, &c. Following upon an invitation received from the executive of the United Fire Brigades Association, I attended their annual conference held at Rotorua on the 3rd and 4th March last, and delivered an address to the delegates on matters in connection with fire protection and fire-brigade work in general, also giving a practical illustration of the effect on fires of streams of water when projected by badly designed and defective nozzles as compared with those of proper construction when in good order. It was evident during the progress of the conference that a majority of the delegates present realized the necessity, in the interest of increasing the efficiency of their brigades, for improving the biennial demonstration competitions in the way of bringing them into line with more modern and practical methods, and a start is to be made in that direction by placing an event on the programme next year based on essentially practical lines. A most important matter, and one greatly affecting the efficient fire-extinction work of the brigades is that of the standardization of appliances. During the course of my inspections of the brigades working under the jurisdiction of Fire Boards, many times I. have had occasion to point out to them defects in the appliances with which they are working. Hose of all descriptions, some of it so rough and corrugated interiorly that many pounds of pressure is wasted; branches of all length and tapers —a new one I recently measured was in. at the base tapering