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1910 NEW ZEALAND.

FIRE BRIGADES OF THE DOMINION REPORT ON THE), BY THE INSPECTOR OF FIRE BRIGADES, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1910.

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. Sib,— Office of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Wellington, Ist July, 1910. Herewith I have the honour to lay bafore you my second report, for the year ended 30th June, 1910, relative to the working of the Fire Brigades Act, and including various matters in connection therewith. The number of proclaimed "fire districts" remains the same as for the previous year — viz., Auckland, Christchurch, Dannevirke, Dunedin, Feilding, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hastings, Hawera, Hokitika, Lawrence, Maori Hill, Masterton, Milton, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Palmerston North, Petone, and Whangarei, or nineteen in all. Efforts have been and are being made in certain other boroughs to have them proclaimed '' fire districts," but there appear to be strong objections on the part of the local Councillors concerned to allow the matter to be submitted for the decision of the ratepayers by means of a poll, as required by the Act. During the past year I have officially inspected the brigades, with their stations and equipments, working under the control of Fire Boards, as follows: — Auckland: December 13 and 14, 1909; May 16 and 17, 1910. Christchurch: March 2, 1910, and other visits. Dannevirke: August 19, 1909; April 12, 1910. Dunedin: September 27, 1909; March 16, 1910. South Dunedin, March 17, 1910. Caversham, March 19, 1910. Feilding: August 30, 1909; January 24, 1910. Gisborne: August 16, 1909; April 7, 1910. Greymouth: November 4, 1909; April 28, 1910. Hastings: August 12, 1909; April 11, 1910. Hawera: September 2, 1909; February 3, 1910. Hokitika: November 5, 1909; April 27, 1910. Lawrence: September 24, 1909; March, 15, 1910. Maori Hill, September 28, 1909; March 18, 1910. Masterton: October 25, 1909; February 11, 1910. Milton: September 23, 1909; March 14, 1910. New Plymouth: September 1, 1909; February 4, 1910. Oamaru: September 29, 1909; March 11, 1910. Palmerston North: August 27, 1909; January 27, 1910. Petone: February 10, 1910, and other visits. Whangarei : December 15, 1909; May 18, 1910. In the case of the majority of the-brigades, after the inspectiori drill was finished any shortcomings or mistakes there may have been were pointed out, and an address of instruction was given. In addition to the statutory work required by the Act, during the course of the year the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. Mr. Buddo) received applications from a number of local authorities —viz., Rangataua, Taihape, Taumarunui, Huntly, and Woodville —asking permission for the Inspector of Fire Brigades to visit their respective towns for the purpose of giving advice in the matter of protection from fire. As in each case the population of the district was below the

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