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AUCKLAND. An inspection of the Auckland Brigade, its stations and equipment, was made on the 22nd and 2.5 th June, when the plant and-appliances were found in good order and condition ; the turnout and drill, were carried out smartly and in an efficient manner. In connection with the inspection the following letter was forwarded to the Secretary of the Board :— Sir— 3rd July, 1917. Following upon my inspection of the Auckland Brigade, its station and equipment, on the 25th ultimo, I would draw the attention of your Board to the fact that upon receipt of an alarm or call at the Remuera Fire-station the officer in charge with all the men respond to the alarm or call, thus leaving the station entirely without supervision and with no means of responding to or sending on a call should one eventuate during the absence of the brigade. As the district protected by the Remuera section now includes Epsom, it means that a very large area remains entirely unprotected for the time being, and that should be rectified. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. It was under consideration to erect a substation at or near the corner of Franklin and. Ponsonby Roads to serve both Ponsonby and Grey Lynn districts, thus doing away with the three smaller stations situated respectively in St. Mary's Road, Rose Road, and Richmond Avenue ; but owing to existing financial conditions it has been decided to hold that scheme over for the present, and alterations and additions have now been made to the Rose Road fire-reel station, providing one set of married quarters and accommodation for single men. Having amalgamated with the city, Epsom is now under the control of the Auckland Fire Board : that portion of the fire district will be protected from Remuera, and the fire-alarm system is now being extended throughout Epsom. The replacement of the old fire-alarms by a more reliable system in the city proper has not yet been taken in hand. (CHRISTCHURCH. An inspection of the Christchurch Brigade, its stations and equipment, was made on the 30th January, when the plant and appliances were found order. The turnout and drill was carried out smartly and in an efficient manner. The St. Albans and Sydenham Stations and equipment was also found in good order. The following letter was forwarded to the Secretary of the Board :— Sir,— 12th Juno, 1917. Whilst in Christchurch recently I heard it was the intention|of the City Council to fill up remaining ground-level concrete water-tanks. From a point of view such, action is a grave mistake, particularly so in Christchurch, where the safety of A the water-supply throughout the city depends upon one carrying main only. Contrary to the proposed action in Christchurch, it is an object in most cities of any size to provide a secondary or auxiliary supply of water for use in the event of any block fires occurring, and in this case in the event of a fire getting away, say, in Strange's or Goss Mill blocks, the tanks in their immediate neighbourhood would prove of the greatest value ; and it is to be hoped the Council will reconsider their decision in the matter. Now that Opawa, St. Martin's, and Avonside have been included within the city boundaries I would bring under the notice of your Board the necessity for the erection of a substation, with an adequate equipment of men, motor, and fire-alarms, in a position somewhere midway between the Central and St. Albans Stations and the borough boundary. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. DANNEVIRKE. Two inspections of the Dannevirke Brigade and its equipment have been made—viz., on the 20th September, 1916, and the Bth May, 1917. At the first inspection there were present the Superintendent, Deputy, and fourteen firemen; these, with two on leave, accounting for the full strength of the brigade then on the roll. Various drills, both wet and dry, were carried out, and at their conclusion several matters were pointed out as requiring attention. The second inspection is covered by the following report forwarded to the Secretary of the Board : — Sir,— 11th May, 1917. An inspection of the Dannevirke Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the Bth instant, when there were present at the inspection muster the Superintendent, Deputy, and fourteen firemen ; these, with two on leave, accounting for the full strength of the brigade then on the roll. Various drills, wet and dry, were carried out, but not in a satisfactory manner, and a better method of conducting the drills should be adopted on the lines as explained at the time to both the Superintendent and Deputy.