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The stations and equipment are maintained in good order and condition. The supply of water for fire-protection purposes in Mastorton has been unsatisfactory for years past, and at times this position becomes absolutely dangerous, owing to the very low pressure prevailing at the time, combined with the always-existing insufficient flow or volume of water; and in that connection I found it necessary to write as follows to the secretary of the Board : — Sic, — Masterton, 17th January, 1913. Shortly after 9 o'clock last night 1 proceeded to the central fire-station with the intention of giving a surprise false alarm, but upon looking at the water-gauge only 32 lb. was registering. As that was not sufficient pressure to ring the bell I did not proceed with my intention. Again this morning at 9.30 only 35 lb. was on the gauge, and upon making inquiries I was informed the pressure had been as low, intermittently, for some little time. This is a most serious position, and as a partial remedy I would recommend that your Board should at once suggest to the Borough Council the urgent necessity of forthwith prohibiting the use of water for watering gardens, and taking immediate steps to enforce the prohibition until the pressure resumes the normal. The accumulators used for the fire-alarm system are not in good order, and your Board should take immediate steps to remedy this. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. As far as I have been able to learn, the fault is due, firstly, to the inadequate size of the supply main carrying the water from the reservoir to the town; secondly, to the small size of the reticu-lating-pipes laid down throughout the borough; and, thirdly, to the number of dead-ends or non-completed, circuits throughout the reticulation system. 1 understand the Borough Council have now under consideration a scheme for the purpose of remedying the' present defects, and whilst doing so it would be wise to look forward and make ample provision for the future—an economic policy that has proved to be sound in many cases when dealing with such matters as the water-supply of growing towns. During the past year the brigade attended thirty-two calls, that included sixteen actual fires, an increase of seven fires as compared with the previous year. The attendance of brigadesmen at nineteen general calls averaged 162 per call, or 73"5 per cent, of the total strength. The fire loss amounted to £3,790, as compared with £5,462 for 1912, a decrease of £1,672. The estimated cost of the brigade for the year 1913-14 is £1,150, as against £1,136 14s. for 1912-13, an increase of £13 6s. MILTON. Two inspections of the Milton Fire Brigade have been held—viz., 23rd September and 7th February. The following report, forwarded to the secretary of the Board, covers the first inspection :— Sir,— sth October, 1912. An inspection of the Milton Fire Brigade and its appliances was held on the 23rd ultimo, and in connection therewith 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, ten firemen, and one messenger : these, with two out of the district on leave, accounted for the full strength of the brigade now on the roll. I would again direct the attention of your Board to the numerical weakness of the brigade, that in your town is a matter of much importance owing to local conditions, inasmuch that any water available for fire purposes must be pumped by the manual labour of the members of the brigade, plus such outside assistance as may be obtainable at the time. During the course of the inspection wet drills it was found to be necessary, before the pump would lift the water from a comparatively shallow depth, to prime the pump by means of water from buckets, and I understand the same thing occurred at the previous wet practice, as also during the course of the large fires in March last —this notwithstanding everything possible has been done by the officers of the brigade to maintain the pumps in good working-order, and it tends to prove that they have become worn out. In any case these small semi-rotary brake pumps are of a very low grade of efficiency for fire-extinction work. The actual provision of a water-supply for your town appears to me to be just as far in the distance as it was, say, three years ago. Whilst in Milton I was assured by both the present and late Superintendents of the brigade that they considered there would be no difficulty in obtaining sufficient help to work a small manual engine in case of need, and with that assurance in view I would recommend your Board should purchase the 80-gallons manual engine from the Dunedin Fire Board, that can, I believe, be obtained at a very reasonable price. To properly equip the engine it will be necessary to purchase in addition branches, nozzles, and. say. 800 ft. of 2| in. canvas hose. Should your Board, owing to a doubt as to whether sufficient help is available to efficiently work the said engine, consider it not advisable to adopt the above-suggested scheme, I would point out that there are a number of patterns of small portable steam fire-engines, oil-engines, also manual engines, both rotary and brake action, suitable to your purpose on the market, of which I shall be pleased to furnish particulars if desired; but in any case, under present conditions your town is quite inadequately protected, and a more efficient equipment should be provided with as little delay as possible. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades.