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AUCKLAND. Two inspections of the Auckland Fire Brigade and its station and equipment has been made—viz., the 14th and 16th November, 1914, and the 17th and 18th May, 1915. Both, inspections are covered by the following reports forwarded to the Secretary of the Board : — Sir,— 26th November, 1914. An inspection of the Auckland Fire Brigade, its stations and equipment, was made on the 14th and 16th instant, when I found the stations and plant in good order generally, but conditions in Parnell district are unsatisfactory, and I must again direct the attention of your Board to the urgent necessity for the erection of a new fire-station in that district. The accommodation provided by the present building, that has now been in the occupation of your Board's brigade for nearly two years, is totally inadequate, and the men's quarters overcrowded and unsuitable, so much so that instead of offering an inducement to good active men who have been well trained to remain in the brigade it must result in a discontent leading to resignations, &c, that reacts badly on the efficiency of the brigade as a whole. With the addition of an engine-house, a rearrangement of the internal accommodation as proposed, and the placing of a motor hose-tender there the Grey Lynn Station recently taken over should prove a suitable fitting-in with the scheme for the better fire-protection of the city. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. Sir,— 29th May, 1915. An inspection of the Auckland Fire Brigade, its stations and equipment, was made on the 17th and 18th instant, and, in that connection, I beg to submit the following report for the consideration of your Board : — The " turn out " at the different stations was carried out smartly, and in an efficient manner. The plant and appliances at all stations is in excellent order, but I must again (see report dated the 26th November, 1914) call the attention of your Board to the most unsatisfactory condition of the accommodation provided for the men at the present Parnell Station, and again emphasize the bad effect such conditions have upon the efficiency of the brigade as a whole. The incorporation of the city with the Remuera district has now made it possible and necessary to formulate a permanent scheme for the present and future protection of the greater portion of the city, and with that object in view I would respectfully suggest that your Board should take into consideration the whole position, treating the matter in order of importance as follows : — First, purchase of site and ercction'of a new station in Parnell.; and I suggest as the most suitable position a site in Manukau Road, somewhere in the vicinity of Claybrooke Street. Second, fixing of a position for the Remuera Station. Failing satisfactory arrangements for the taking-over of a suitable portion offthe present site, I suggest purchase of one of the vacant sections situated in Remuera Road between Norana Avenue and Armadale Road, and erection of a new station thereon. Third, purchase of a motor hose-tender fitted with a modern 60 ft. extension ladder, dispensing with the horses and obsolete horse-drawn ladder at present maintained at the Central Station. This will effect a considerable saving not only in regard to the cost of maintaining the horses in comparison wtih the cost for interest on the purchase price of the proposed motor machine, but it also means practically the addition of another man to the working-strength of the brigade, as well as the increased efficiency obtained. Fourth, in anticipation of the resumption by the Corporation of the present Beach Road Station, it is necessary to acquire a site at some suitable position on the Harbour Board reclamation, a station to be erected thereon having accommodation for one married man and, say, seven single men, and to house the motor pump and the electrical ladder. All the above suggestions were fully discussed with the Chairman and other members of your Board, as also with the Superintendent of the brigade, when I was in Auckland, and, whilst the whole scheme should receive immediate attention and a definite line of policy be adopted, the first matter mentioned, " Parnell Station," is and should be regarded by the Board as most urgent, and taken in hand at once. Ithave, &c, PI l| Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. During the year the Remuera Road District has become incorporated with the city, and six firemen with a motor hose-and-ladder tender has been stationed there. Additions to the equipment include two new 40 h.p. motor hose-tenders, throe new fire-alarm thirty-three more call-boxes have been installed, making in all twenty-seven circuits, having'174feall-points ;Ybut|I regret to note there is a reduction of two in the number ofjprivate automatic detector installations.f'All the V-thrcad screw-connections on the hose, standpipes, and*branches%ave now|been :T replacedfby7an T instantane(itis pattern of coupling. One of the older motor hose-tenders has been sold out of the service. During the year the brigade received 200 100 proved to be for actual fires occurring within the district, five more than during the previous year. The fire loss amounted to £18,277, as compared with £5,596 for 1913-14, an increase of £12,681. The estimated cost of the brigade for 1915-16 is £10,81.1, as compared with £10,256 for 1914 15, an increase of £555.