H.—6a

19

The attendance of members of the brigade at the inspection musters and drill shows a still further and satisfactory improvement. The station and equipment were maintained in good order and condition. During the course of the year two fires have occurred in the district, or three less than during the previous year. The strength of members of the brigade averaged 27 per fire, or 90 per cent, of the total strength. The fire loss amounted to £22, or £54 less than during 1912. The estimated cost of the brigade for the year 1913-14 is £433 6s. Bd., the same as for the year 1912-13. LAWRENCE. Two inspections of the Lawrence Fire Brigade and its equipment have been made —viz., 24th September, 1912, and 6th February, 1913. The following two reports, forwarded to the secretary of the Board, cover the respective inspections : — Sir, — Office of Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 4th October, 1912. An inspection of the Lawrence Fire Brigade and its equipment was held on the 24th ultimo, and in that connection I have the honour to submit the following report for the consideration of your Board : — There were present at the inspection muster the Superintendent, Deputy, and four firemen : these, with two on leave, accounted for the full strength of the brigade then on the roll —viz., eight all told. This is four less than the authorized number, and an effort should immediately be made to bring the brigade up to its full strength. Various wet driHs were carried out in a satisfactory manner. Whilst in Dunedin I saw a light hand-drawn hose-reel that, with the addition, to give greater rigidity, of an iron rod or frame attached to the rear end of the main frame on each side and extended overhead in a circular form, I consider would be very suitable to your requirements. Only one stand-pipe should be carried on the reel in question, and that a single-header. In reference to the new Technical School recently erected in your town, I would recommend, seeing that the school is built on the hill at such an elevation that very little, if any, pressure of water is available, and that some little time must elapse after receiving the alarm before the brigade can possibly arrive on the scene, that your Board should suggest to the school authorities the advisability of providing two or three hand chemical extincteurs, that if used promptly in case of an outbreak of fire would probably be the means of saving the building from total destruction. I note also that although the building is so new —in fact, hardly finished —the doors al-e hung to open inwards. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. Sir,— 27th February, 1913. Following upon my inspection of the Lawrence Fire Brigade and its equipment on the 6th instant, I have the honour to forward the following report for the consideration of your Board : — At the inspection muster there were present the Superintendent and ten firemen : these, with the Deputy on leave, accounted for the full strength of the brigade then on the roll. The various inspection drills were carried out in a satisfactory manner. There is a space of over 600 ft. between two of the street fire-hydrants in Peel Street. Another hydrant should be fixed on the main about midway between the two in question. A hydrant fixed in the position indicated would prove of great service in case of an outbreak of fire in either Colonsay or Ailsa Streets. In the above connection I would point out that the Municipal Corporations Act requires the Council to fix fire-plugs at distances not more than 100 yards from each other. At the time of my previous visit to Lawrence I understood that your Board had decided to provide the brigade with a light hand hose-reel for use on the higher levels. That provision I find has not yet been made, and I have to recommend that the reel should be procured with as little delay as possible. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. A sum of £25 has been included in the estimates for the coming year for the purchase of a light reel, and it should now be procured without further delay. The present reel is altogether too heavy for the men to drag up the higher levels if they are expected to be in any condition for work when they arrive at the scene of operation. The brigade responded to four calls during the year, of which, however, only one proved to be an actual fire —the same number as during the previous year. The attendance of brigadesmen at three calls (No. 1 omitted) averaged 9"3 per call, or 775 per cent, of the strength. The fire loss amounted to £400. as against £1 for the previous year, and increase of £399. The estimated cost of the brigade for the year 1913-14 is £75, the same as for 1912-13.