El.—6a

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The fire was lit under the stationary fire-engine boiler at 7.48 p.m., and there was a pressure of 651b. on the steam-gauge at 7.59 p.m. The engine was then started to fill the salt-water mains, and two good deliveries were shown in Peel Street, the first at 8.4 p.m., the second at 8.6 p.m. —a good result. Various experiments were carried out on the high-pressure system, mostly with the object of illustrating the use of the two-into-one breeching for obtaining deliveries with the maximum pressure and volume for use at large fires. In view of the arrival of the new chemical engine, verbal instructions as to its use, &c, were given. It was obvious to me during the performance of the inspection drills that a better system of control is necessary. The bell-ropes are becoming- considerably oxidized, causing much .friction when running over the pulleys, and they will require renewing in the near future. . ■ A word of warning is necessary in regard to the new motor tire-car shortly to arrive, and in that connection it is unfortunate that the proposed new central fire-station will not be ready for its reception. The favourable results to be obtained from such an appliance are very much bound up with its suitable housing, &c. —such, for instance, as fireman residing and sleeping on the premises, ready to get away immediately an alarm is received, &c.—and it is to be hoped the erection of the new station will be proceeded with at the earliest possible moment. The machine in question is of necessity of a heavy character, and as the borough roads are in a very bad condition indeed very great care will have to be exercised when proceeding to fires. In being ready for instantaneous use lies a large share of the utility of the car, and more than ordinary vigilance is required in its daily maintenance, in seeing that everything is in runningorder at all times, and the engine should be started up several times during each twenty-four hours. . - Before removing or disconnecting the stationary fire-engine from the present well everything should be ready for immediately connecting up to the second well, so that the auxiliary salt-water system will be at once available in case of an accident to the town water-supply. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. Sir,— 16th January, 1913. Herewith 1 have the honour to forward a report for the consideration of your Board in connection with my inspection on the Bth instant of the recently acquired hose, ladder, and chemical motor-car. The damage done in transit to the telescopic ladder I find is very serious. The standing or main frame is completely fractured on both sides, some 6 ft. from the bottom. One side of the frame of the sliding section shows a slight fracture, and the whole ladder is very badly buckled, so much so as to require an entirely new frame, and I have to recommend that whoever is responsible for the damage should be called upon to replace the ladder with a new one. The chemical engine part of the equipment worked in a highly satisfactory manner, and it is my opinion the engine and car will, if properly looked after and properly handled, entirely fulfil its specifications; but here it is necessary to again (see report prior to arrival of car, dated 21st October, 1912, and of which apparently very little notice has been taken) give some words of warning as to the care and management of the motor fire-car. To carry the requisite loading these fire-motors are of necessity of much heavier build than the ordinary car, and in turning corners the side stress on the wheels is very great, and the danger in your case is increased owing to the necessity, due to the bad state of your roads, of raising the load line for the purpose of obtaining a reasonably high road-clearance, therefore the absolute necessity of slowing, down very considerably when turning corners. No fire-motors are built to withstand such a strain as your car was subjected to when turning out of Gladstone Road into Herbert Street, and it is fortunate nothing further occurred than a leaf of the off-side front spring jumping the slot. A driver may be most expert in handling the ordinary touringcar, but without preliminary and thorough practice in driving a motor-car he does not realize, or is apt to forget, the weight he has under him —in your case well over 3 tons when fully loaded. Every driver should have such practice, with particular attention to letting in the clutch — yours, by the way, was quite too fierce—changing speeds, &c, before being allowed to drive to fires. The speed of the car, whilst taking a little more risk in proceeding to a fire, must be modified in accordance with the condition of the road. The car is specified to carry eight men in all, and that number must on no account be exceeded when going to a fire, and not more than ten at any other time. Presumably the minor adjustments pointed out at the time have been attended to. Having in view the extremely bad state of your roads, I have to recommend that strong spiral springs be fixed in a vertical position between the main frame and the carriage springs, dire.ctly over the axles, for the purpose of taking some of the shock. While standing in the station the back wheels should stand upon wedge-shaped blocks of wood so as to give the car an easy start. The engine should be started and run for a couple of minutes four times daily; also, the accumulators should be tested daily. In conclusion T have to reiterate, if the running of the car as a fire appliance is to ble a success, the absolute necessity of proper and methodical care, the prompt attention to major and minor adjustments, that up to the time of my visit it had not received, and the learning and careful driving of the machine; and to that end also the sooner the car is suitably housed, with the men residing on the premises ready for an immediate response to an alarm of fire, the sooner a result adequate to the cost of the machine may be looked for. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo. Inspector of Fire Brigades.