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H.—6a

NEW PLYMOUTH. Two inspections of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade, its stations and equipment, have been held—viz., 30th August, 1911, and 17th and 18th January, 1912. An inspection of the Fitzroy section of the brigade was made on the 22nd May last. At the request of the Fire Board a special visit was paid on the 21st to 23rd May, for the purpose of drawing up a scheme for the protection of greater New Plymouth At the first inspection there were present the Superintendent and twenty-two firemen; these, with four on leave and one sick, accounted for the full strength of the brigade. A number of test drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner. The following report covers the second inspection : — " Sir,— " 27th January, 1912. " Following upon my visit to New Plymouth on the 17th and 18th instant for the purpose of inspecting your fire brigade and its equipments, I have the honour to submit the following report for the consideration of your Board. " At the inspection muster at 8 p.m. on the 17th there were present the Superintendent and twenty-six officers and firemen; these, with the Deputy Superintendent absent on leave, accounted for twenty-eight out of a total strength of thirty-—a satisfactory attendance. A little later the Captain and ten firemen from the Fitzroy district, lately included in the borough, were in attendance. "At 8.13 p.m. instructions were given to the town brigade to get to work on the Anglican Parsonage in Robe Street, and at 8.17'25 p.m. three deliveries were at work. This was creditable time, and would have been better but that time was lost in trying to ship the first stand-pipe, that had to be replaced by another. Upon examining the defective stand-pipe later it was found that some time previously the collar had been broken off the shank, and when repairing it prior to brazing the lug-nut had been replaced on the shank upside down. This requires attending to immediately. " The Fitzroy section caried out some wet drill, but time was too limited to put them through a thorough inspection, and this will be done at a future period. "A number of water-pressure tests were carried out witli very satisfactory results, the presure directly off the main in Powderham Street registering 1201b. " The stations and appliances are maintained in good order. " Of the proposed new sites for a Central Fire Station, that on the corner of Liardet and Courtenay Streets is the most suitable, and, having regard to both present risks and future trend, probably the best site in the town for the purpose. The selected site in Devon Street for a station to serve the Fitzroy district is a very suitable one. "As arranged at the special meeting of your Board, the whole question of a scheme for the adequate fire-protection of greater New Plymouth will be considered and reported upon when the amalgamation becomes an accomplished fact. " I have, &c, "Thos. T. Hugo, " Inspector of Fire Brigades." At the inspection of the Fitzroy Brigade there were present the Captain, Lieutenant, and eleven firemen, that with one on leave and one sick accounted for fifteen out of a total strength of sixteen then on the roll. The members of the brigade are a well-set-up and active body of men, and the wet test drills were carried out smartly and in an efficient manner. Following is the report in connection with my special visit: — " Sir,— " 31st May, 1912. " I have the honour to submit for the consideration of your Board the following report in confirmation of my recommendations as.made at the meeting held in New Plymouth on the 23rd instant. " A first portion of the new Central Fire Brigade Station to be erected on the recently acquired site on the corner of Liardet and Courtenay Streets, said portion to consist of one section, two stories in height, to contain on the ground floor an engine-house, say, 32 ft. wide by 40ft. in depth, having a 14ft. stud; and on the first floor a recreation-room of the same dimensions as the engine-house, with a 13 ft. stud. A second section, one story high, to contain a watch-room (say, 14ft. by 14ft.), store and workroom combined; two or three bedrooms to accommodate six single firemen; bathroom and w.os. The whole to be designed and built in such manner that when circumstances require it the remaining portion of the building can be erected as a continuation of the first. Estimated cost, £1,250. The building known as the Eastern Station to be shifted to the new section at Fitzroy. Cost of shifting, renovating, and improving the accommodation estimated at £200. Bell-tower at Eastern Station to be shifted to new Central Station site; cost, £25. Fitzroy bell-tower to be shifted to new site in that district, and a bell-gallows erected in the vicinity of the present position of the Fitzroy tower for fire-alarm purposes ; cost, £25. "Western Station to remain, but sleeping-accommodation to be provided; say, £50. Reelshed and bell, Devon Road (vicinity Superintendent's house), to remain. " Vogeltown : If found sufficiently sound the reel-shed from Fitzroy to be shifted to this district and equipped with the hose-reel from the Eastern Station; a gallows erected, and bell hung thereon : cost, £35. " West Town :A. small shed to be built and equipped with a CO s chemical engine of 40 gallons capacity; a gallows erected, and bell hung thereon: £120.