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1917. NEW ZEALAND.

FIRE BRIGADES OF THE DOMINION (REPORT ON THE) BY THE INSPECTOR OF FIRE BRIGADES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1917.

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. 3ir, — Office of the Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 26th July, 1917. Herewith I have the honour to lay before you my ninth annual report, for the year ended 30th June, 1917, relative to the working of the Fire Brigades Act and including matters in connection therewith. During the year the Ohakune Fire Board was dissolved, and accordingly the Borough of Ohakune ceased to be a fire district; but the Borough of Waihi was proclaimed a fire district on the 11th June, 1916, consequently the number of proclaimed districts remain the same as last year, and are- — Auckland, Christchurch, Dannevirke, Dunedin, Feilding, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Hastings, Hawera, Hokitika, Lawrence, Masterton, Milton, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Palmerston North, Petone, Rotorua, Taurarga, Timaru, Waihi, Whangarei, and Woolston. I have officially inspected the brigades, with their stations and equipment, at present working under the control of Fire Boards, as follows :■ — Auckland—22nd and 25th June, 1917. Christchurch —30th January, 1917. Dannevirke—2oth September, 1916 ; Bth May, 1917. Dunedin—lsth and 16th March, 1917. Feilding—l9th April, 1917. Greymouth—l9th January, 1.917. Hamilton—26th February, 1917. Hastings—7th May, 1917. Hiwera—4th September, 1.916 ; 16th April, 1917. Hokitika—22nd January, 1917. Lawrence—7th March, 1917. Masterton—3rd May, 1917. Milton—Bth March, 1917. New Plymouth—sth September, 1916; 17th April, 1917. Fitzroy—sth September, 1916. Oamaru- —31st October, 1916. Palmerston North —14th June, 1917. Petone—2Bth June, 1917. Rotorua—23rd February, 1917. Tauranga—2lst February, 1917. Timaru—24th January, 1917. Whangarei—l6th and 17th November, 1916. Woolston—2nd November, 1916 ; 22nd May, 1917. In addition to the statutory inspections, in accordance with requests received from local and other bodies, visits were paid for special purposes as follows :■ — Devonport —sth July, 1916 : Inquiry into organization of brigade, &c. Trentham Camp—l9th July, 1916 : Inspection of manual and equipment. Trentham Camp—l4th August, 1916 : In connection with outbreak of fires. Cambridge—loth October, 1916 : In connection with licensing of picture-theatre. Hamilton- —11th October, 1916 : Special visit. Devonport —20th November, 1916 : Inspection of brigade. Waihi —22nd and 23rd November, 1916: Report upon water-supply, equipment of brigade, &c.