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HAMILTON. An inspection of the Hamilton Brigade was made on the 26th May last. The following report covers the inspection : — Sib,— 12th June, 1919. An inspection of the Hamilton Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the 23rd ultimo, when at the inspection muster there were present the Superintendent, Deputy, and twenty firemen ; these, with six on leave, accounting for the full strength of the brigade. Various wet and dry drills with the motor pump, escape-ladder, &c, were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and plant are in good order and condition. The attendance of members of the brigade at fires within the first few minutes after the alarms have been given, and upon which so much depends, is still very unsatisfactory. I understand that at several night fires only the Superintendent and the driver were riding on the fire-motor when it loft the station in response to the call. The proper solution of the difficulty is the building of a cottage on the back portion of tho section to accommodate the motor-driver and his family, and the rooms in the main building to be used for their original purpose, - viz., the housing of single men. 1 note the alarm wire and bell is not yet installed in the house, of the auxiliary fireman who lives immediately adjacent within 50 yards of the station. A tower should be erected at the'rear of the central station for hose-drying purposes. 1 heard the siren fire-alarm when it was sounded on tho morning of the 24th ultimo, and again heard it on the afternoon of the 30th, and on both occasions it appeared to me that as a fire-alarm it was fairly satisfactory, although 1 consider that better results would be obtained if it were fixed at a lower elevation. Another unsatisfactory feature of fire-protection in Hamilton is the inadequate water-pressure, which averages only 40 lb. to 42 lb. If the, Frankton water-tower was utilized for the purpose it would increase the pressure in the fire-mains to approximately 80 lb., a very fair provision, under present local conditions. 1 understand the Borough Council is now moving in the direction of improving the reticulation and supply generally, the Borough Engineer recommending the installation of a set of new and more powerful pumps capable of pumping into the tower tank 50,000 gallons of water per hour, and against a head of 350 ft. 152 lb.; and if tho capacity of the pumps is increased to 60,000 gallons per hour, and they are connected up in such a manner that, in ease of a, large firo the tower can be cut out and the pumps worked directly into the street mains, I consider the proposition will, from a fire-fighting point of view, prove efficient for a long time to come. I have, &c. Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. F. W. Luxi'ord, Esq., Secretary, Fire Board, Hamilton. During the year eighteen fires occurred in the district, as against four during the previous year, an increase of fourteen. The fire loss for 1918-19 amounted to £4,517, as compared with £283 for 1917-18, an increase of £4,234. HASTINGS. An inspection of the Hastings Brigade was made on the 14th April last. The following report covers the inspection : — Sir,— 22nd April, 1.919. An inspection of the Hastings Fire Brigade, its station and equipment, was made on the 14th instant, when at the inspection muster there were present the Superintendent, Deputy, fifteen firemen, and two messengers ; these, with two on duty and two on leave, accounting for twentythree out of a total strength of twenty-four then on the roll. Various wot and dry drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner, and the station and equipment are in good order and efficient condition. The motor hose and chemical machine has been fitted with magneto ignition, which has improved the running of the engine. 1 would again (see report dated 11th May, 1917) call attention to the necessity for the installation of a, street fire-alarm system in Hastings, and recommend your Board should give this matter early consideration. 1 have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. J. B. Pickering, Esq., Secretary, Fire Board, Hastings. During the past year twelve fires occurred in the district, as against fourteen for the previous year, a decrease of two. The fire loss for 1918-19 amounted to £0,530, as compared with £3,528 for 1917-18, an increase of £3,002. HOKITIKA. An inspection of the Hokitika Brigade, its stations and equipment, was made on the 10th February, 1919, when at the inspection muster there were present,tho Superintendent, Deputy, and twenty-two firemen ; those, with two on duty and one on leave, accounting for twenty-seven out of a total strength of twenty-nine then on the roll.