H.—6a

8

The Fire Board have made a number of improvements in the brigade equipment, the principal being as follows : A horse is now available for taking the plant to a fire. Hose-boxes equipped with 200 ft. of hose, branch, and standpipe have been placed, one in Gladstone Road and another in Whataupoko district. The cracked bell in the tower in Gladstone Road has been replaced by a new one, but no move has yet been made in the more important matter of erecting a new fire station. The following interim report was forwarded to the Secretary of the Gisborne Fire Board: — Sir, — Office of the Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 21st April, 1910. In connection with my recent visit of inspection to your town I have again to bring under the notice of your Board the necessity for the erection of a new Central Fire Station that will provide accommodation for a resident caretaker and sleeping accommodation for firemen. The brigade has not yet been provided with coupling-ladders suitable for carrying to a fire, and no provision for fire protection has yet been made in the Kaiti district, nor is there any improvement in marking the position of the fire hydrants. Seeing that the foregoing are matters that very materially affect the efficient working of the brigade, I would respectfully suggest that they should receive the active consideration of your Board at its earliest convenience. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. During the year ending 30th June, 1910, 32 fires have occurred in the Gisborne Fire District, as against 13 for last year, an increase of 19. The loss by fire was £8,488, as compared with £5,887 for the previous year, an increase of £2,601. There has been a very high percentage of fires, in proportion to population, in the Gisborne Fire District during the past j'ear —viz., 4'566 per thousand. Another feature calling for remark is the large proportionate number of fires returned as due to incendiarism or unknown causes : out of a total of 32 fires in the district, 5 have been returned as caused by incendiaries, and 24 as due to unknown causes. The estimated cost of the brigade for the vear 1910-11 is £541 Bs. 2d. as compared with £524 Bs. sd. for 1909-10, an increase of £16 19s. 9d.

GREYMOUTH. An inspection of the Greymouth Fire Brigade was held on the 4th November, 1909. At the roll-call at 9.40 p.m. there was a full attendance —viz., Superintendent, Deputy, and 18 firemen. At the second inspection, on the 28th April, 1910, there were present—Superintendent, Deputy, and 12 firemen, or 14 accounted for out of a total strength of 20 then on the roll. The attendance at the first inspection was very satisfactory, but that at the second was not so. The fire-engine during the first inspection was handled in a very capable manner, and the various drills were carried out smartly and efficiently. The plant and appliances are maintained in good order and condition. A new bell-tower, roughly constructed of wood, has been erected at the corner of Buccleuch and High Streets. The lower part of the tower should be boarded in, and a light hose-reel, equipped with a hose, branch, and standpipe, at present in the neighbouring box, placed there; ladders also are required there. Other minor additions to the equipment have been made during the year, but in the matter of providing better station accommodation nothing of any moment has been done. It is simply a waste of money to do any patching to the old and dilapidated building that is at present doing duty as a Central Fire Station; also, the Blaketown district is without any adequate protection from fire. During the year ending 30th June, 1910, 8 fires occurred in the Greymouth Fire District, as compared with 2 for the previous year, an increase of 6. The loss by fire amounted to £2,326, as against £280, an increase of £2,046. Ihe estimated cost of the brigade for the year 1910—11 is £806 45., as against £685 10s. for 1909-10, an increase of £120 14s.

HASTINGS. The 30th June, 1910, completes the first official year that the Hastings Fire Brigade has been working under the control of the Fire Board, and the following two reports cover my inspections of that brigade and its equipment: — Sir, — Office of Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 12th October, 1909. In reply to your letter dated the 20th ultimo addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs, and asking for a copy of Inspector Hugo's report on the Hastings Fire Brigade, I have the honour to forward you the following report: — I gave a call at the fire station at 8.8 p.m. on Thursday, the 12th August, for a supposed fire on a vacant section at the corner of Warren and Queen Streets, some 325 yards distant from the station, directing that two deliveries should be got to work from the steamer. The engine, reel, and Fire Police salvage-van were turned out smartly. The engine was placed alongside the sewer-