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one 1J in. nozzle a pressure of 1601b. was registered, with two 1 in. nozzles 1151b., and with one 1J in. nozzle 135 lb. —a satisfactory record. The following report, forwarded to the Secretary of the Board, covers the second inspection :— Sir,— Bth April, 1916. An inspection of the Timaru Brigade and its equipment was held on the 29th ultimo, when there were present at the inspection muster the Superintendent, Deputy, and fourteen firemen; these, with two on leave, accounting for the then full strength of the brigade. The motor was turned out smartly, and the subsequent ladder and hose drill carried out in a satisfactory manner. The station and equipment is maintained in good order. A matter that requires rectifying in relation to the routine working of the motor was explained to the Chairman and Superintendent at the time of my visit. An examination of the water-supply as set out in the recently completed plan clearly shows that the fire-main reticulation throughout the borough is on the whole in a very unsatisfactory condition. The following is a tentative list of new mains, extensions, &c, that are required, and this, while covering in all a large portion of the town, refers only to such parts thereof that are already more or less built upon: New mains in Belfield and Creek Streets; continuation of main along White Street to Selwyn Street; continuation of main along Andrews Street to Quarry Street; in the Highfield and Craighead district a number of new mains are required, also the dead ends require picking up and bringing into circuit; circuit laid from Wai-iti Road along Ranfurly and Onslow Streets to Rathmore Street; dead end, Oxford Street West, connected up to main in Church Street West; new main, Cameron and Jackson Streets; new main, Gibson and York Streets from Arthur to Church Streets; on harbour front a main required along Eraser Street connected up to Hayes Street. All that district south of the Girls' High School requires a number of new mains, and the dead ends, of which I counted ten, bringing into circuit. New main to complete circuit from 4 in. south of hospital to 4 in. corner of cemetery. A number of 2| in. mains now down should be replaced by pipes not less than 4 in. in diameter, also there are a number of 3 in. mains that should be replaced by larger pipes. Some of the suggested improvements are of an urgent character as affecting the more congested parts, with greater value of the property at stake, but the whole matter should receive the Borough Council s early attention. I have, &0., Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. The station and equipment are maintained in good order. The authorized strength of the brigade has been increased to twenty-five, but some difficulty is being experienced in maintaining the strength, principally owing to the number of enlistments.

WHANGAREI. An inspection of the Whangarei Brigade and its equipment was made on the 4th November, 1915. The following report, forwarded to the Secretary of the Board, covers the inspection : — Sir, — 15th November, 1915. An inspection of the Whangarei Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the 4th instant, and following is my report in that connection. Upon my arrival in Whangarei on the morning of the date mentioned I visited the main station and found the running plant was not in the efficient condition in which it should be maintained; also, the station was in a most untidy state with, amongst other things, coils of hose, new and old, lying about the damp engine-room floor. Later in the day, in company with the Superintendent and Deputy, a second visit was paid to the station and the conditions pointed out to the two officers in question. At the inspection muster the same evening there was present the Superintendent, Deputy, and sixteen firemen; these, with one on leave and one on duty, representing the full strength of the brigade—a satisfactory attendance. Various hose drills were carried out, as also was some practice with the newly acquired 50 ft. Pretoria extension-ladder, &o. As pointed out at the time, the men require more instruction and practice in certain drills, and the shank of the single-head standpipe should be lengthened to 22 in. between collars. The method at present in vogue for keeping the station and appliances in order is not working in a satisfactory manner, and some other system should be adopted whereby the station and plant will be maintained in a condition more in accordance with ordinary fire-brigade custom; also, I consider it was an injudicious action on the part of your Board in authorizing the reduction in the size of the engine-room, which was quite small enough in the first place, and now is altogether too confined for its purpose. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. Upon making a second inspection of the station and its equipment on the 4th May I found everything in good order, and in that respect showing considerable improvement upon previous conditions. A 50 ft. double wood-trussed extension-ladder of the sliding-carriage type was received from the English manufacturers in August last. The ladder forms part of the equipment of a5O h.p. combination motor appliance that has now been on order for over two years, but no definite information has been received as to when delivery of the machine itself may be expected.