GISBORNE FIRE BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2625, 6 October 1909, Page 3

GISBORNE FIRE BOARD.

HEAVY EXPENSES

A meeting of the Gisborne Fire Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. Townley presided, and there were also present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Lystiar), and Messr F. Harris and J. Coleman. A letter was read from the Christchurch Fire Board asking if the Gisborne Board favored/ the proposed bolding of a conference at Wellington, or had any suggestions to make. —It was resolved to write ip reply that the Board had no recommendation to make with regard to the date. A reply to the Board’s request for one telephone free of charge was received from the Superintendent of Electric Lines (Mr. J. K. Logan) to the effect that the Government had altogether abolished free telephones. A request was considered from the Brigade asking for a reel and hose to lie placed at the Carnarvon Street fire bell. —On Mr. Lysnar’s motion the request was granted. The Christchurch Board wrote offering for sale two chemical engines.— Mr. Townley said that as Gisborne had a high-pressure water supply chemical engines were unnecessary. The Palmerston North Board offered for sale a hose reel and ladder cart, also a hand fire police salvage cart. — None of these offers were accepted. Accounts amounting to £IOB 16s 7d were passed. Mr. Townley remarked that the item of £6O 12s 6d for payment of firemen was the biggest on record. Since July 18th the Brigade had turned out no fewer than 20 times.

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Air. Harris, it was decided to reduce the prescribed notice of meetings from seven to three days. Mr. Harris opened a discussion on the defective marking of street fire plugs. The Mayor said he thought the matter was one which the Borough Council ought not to be shouldered with. Air. Townley, however, replied that he thought that the water supply was not complete until this was done. It had been done in other places. The Brigade were often hampered by not being able to locate the plugs. Air. Lysnar that the matter was now before the Council. It was resolved, on the Chairman’s suggestion, to have the Fire Brigade shed re-painted. It was decided to let the question of forming a fire police and salvage corps to stand over for the present, there being no accommodation for a corps and no provision for expenditure in this year’s estimates. It was resolved to call for tenders for new uniforms.

Mr. Lysnar said he thought the Board ought to allow the borough something; for rent, but Mr. Townlev remarked that the Brigade had made the ground what it was, and Mr. Coleman added that if rent was paid it would be acknowledging the Council as owners.