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At the second inspection muster there were present the Superintendent, Deputy, and ten firemen ; these, with one on duty and one on leave, accounted for fourteen out of the fifteen then on the roll. Certain drills were carried out in a fairly satisfactory manner. The stations and equipment are maintained in good order and condition, but the street fire-alarm system still causes trouble occasionally. The brigade has been partially equipped with Government-pattern gear. During the year seven calls were received, three of which proved to be actual fires within the district. No fires occurred during the previous year. The fire loss amounted to £1,322, as against no loss during 1913-14. The estimated cost of the brigade for 1915-16 is £130, as compared with. £200 for 1914-15, a decrease of £70. MASTERTON. Two inspections of the, Masterton Fire Brigade and its equipment have been made viz., 15th December, 1914, and 27th May, 1915. The two following reports, forwarded to the Secretary of the Board, covers both inspections : — Sir,- 21st December, 1914. An inspection of the Masterton Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the 15th instant, when there was present at the inspection muster the Superintendent, Deputy, and twenty-six firemen ; these, with three on leave, accounted for the full strength (thirty-one) of the brigade then on the roll. The engine and hose-reel were turned out smartly, and various drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner. A test was also made of the flow of water from the mains at several points. The stations and appliances are in good order, but, as pointed out at the time, a. buffer-spring should be fitted on the apparatus for towing the reel. The record shows that the water-pressure has been more or less dangerously low for some time past, particularly, for instance, throughout the daytime, averaging below 20 1b. At 3 p.m. on the 15th it registered 35 1b., and at 8 p.m. only 45 lb., this with an overflowing reservoir at the time, pointing to an excessively heavy " draw off," presumably due to a very extensive watering of gardens ; and, in view of the dangerous situation, I would recommend your Board should draw the attention of the Borough Council to the urgent necessity of immediately forbidding any further watering of gardens, at any rate, until such time that the improvement to the water-service now being carried out becomes an accomplished fact. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. Str, 2nd June, 1915. An inspection of the Masterton Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the 27th ultimo, when there were present at the inspection muster the Superintendent, Deputy, and twenty-two firemen; these, with five on leave, accounted for the full strength (twenty-nine) of the brigade then on the roll. Various drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and appliances are in good order. As the fireman at present residing at the Kuripuni reel-station is shortly leaving there, and it would mean considerable outlay to put the building in a fit state for further occupation, I consider the following suggestion of the Superintendent a practical one, and recommend it for adoption- i.e., that a shed large enough to house the hose-reel at present kept at the Kuripuni Station be erected in the vicinity of the Triangle, the reel placed there, and the present reel-station dispensed with. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. The Fire Police Corps has been disbanded as a body, a certain number joining the brigade and thus increasing the membership of that body to thirty-one all told. The 60 h.p. hose, ladder, ami turbine-pump machine ordered over twelve months ago has not yet come to hand, war-conditions being responsible for its non-delivery. Thirty-two calls were received during the year, of which fourteen proved to be actual fires occurring within the district, an increase over those of last year of fourteen in the number of calls, and of eight fires. The attendance of members of the brigade at the fifteen calls subsequent to the amalgamation of the fire police and brigade, for which a general alarm was given, averaged twenty-two per call, or 71 per cent, of the full strength. The fire loss for the year amounted to £3,649, as against £3,203 for 1913 II. an increase of £246. The estimated cost of the/brigade for 1915-16 is £1,246 18s,, as compared with £1.151 Is. Id. lor for 1914-15, an increase of £95 16s. 8d. MILTON. Two inspections of the Milton Brigade ami. its equipment have been made- viz., the 7th October, 1914. and the 9th March, 1915. The following two reports forwarded to the Secretary of the Board cover the respective inspections :- Sir,- 20th October, 1914. An inspection of the Milton Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the 7th instant, when there was present at the inspection muster the Superintendent, Deputy, eleven firemen, and one messenger : these, with two on leave, accounting for the full strength of the brigade.