H.—6a,

1915. NEW ZEALAND.

FIRE BRIGADES OF THE DOMINION (REPORT ON THE), BY THE INSPECTOR OF FIRE BRIGADES, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1915.

Presented, to both. Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Inspector of Fire Brigades to the Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs. Sir, — Office of Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 9th August, 1915. Herewith I have the honour to lay before you my seventh annual report for the year ended the 30th June, 1915, relative to the working of the Fire Brigades Act, and including matters in connection therewith. During the year there has been an increase in the number of proclaimed fire districts gazetted as follows : Tauranga, 27th July, 1914 ; Ohakune, 24th September, 1914 ; and Woolston, 21st June, 1915: these bringing the total number up to twenty-five, viz. : Auckland, Christchurch, Dannevirke, Dunedin, Feilding, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Hastings, Hawera, Hokitika, Lawrence, Maori Hill, Masterton, Milton, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Ohakune, Palmerston North, Petone, Rotorua, Tauranga, Timaru, Whangarei, and Woolston. I have officially inspected the brigades working under the control of Fire Boards, their stations and equipment, &c, as follows : — Auckland —14th and 16th November, 1914; 17th and 18th May, 1915. Christchurch —3rd December, 1914; 16th and 17th April, 1915. Dannevirke—23rd October, 1914; Bth June, 1915. Dunedin—loth and 12th October, 1914; 12th March, 1915. South Dunedin—llth March, 1915. Roslyn- -12th March, 1915. Caversham —11th March, 1915. Feilding—7th December, 1914; 26th April, 1915. Gisborne —6th and 7th January, 1915. Greymouth—lst December, 1914; 13th April, 1915. Hamilton—3rd November, 1914; 11th May, 1915. Hastings—22nd October, 1914; 11th February, 7th June, 1915. Hawera--17th September, 1.914; 3rd February, 1915. Hokitika—2nd December, 1914 ; 14th April, 1915. Lawrence—Bth October, 1914; 10th March, 1915. Maori Hill—9th October, 1914; Bth March, 1915. Masterton—lsth December, 1914; 27th May, 1915. Milton—7th October, 1914; 9th March, 1915. New Plymouth —15th September, .1914; 2nd February, 1915. Fitzroy—l6th September, 391.4. Oamaru—6th October, 1914; sth March, 1915. Palmerston North—Bth December, 1914; 27th April, 1915. Petone-18th December, 1914; 21st June, 1915. Rotorua—sth November, 1914; 26th March, .1915. Tauranga—6th November, 1914; 25th March, 1915. Timaru —4th December, 1914; 19th April, 1915. Whangarei—llth November, 1914; 14th May, 1915.

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