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At the second inspection there were present the Superintendent and thirteen firemen : these, with one on leave, accounted for the full strength of the brigade—a satisfactory attendance. Various drills, both wet and dry, were carried out in the vicinity of the Crown Roller-mills, and the required work was performed in an efficient manner. The station and equipment is maintained in good order and condition. No provision has yet been made for the better protection of the northern portion of the town. Seven fires have occurred in the district, or two more than during the previous year. The attendance of members of the brigade averaged 12"9 per fire, or 804 per cent, of the total strength. The fire loss amounted to £2,675, as compared with £784 for 1912, an increase of £1,891. The estimated cost of the brigade for the year 1913-14 is £340, as against £360 for the year 1912-13, a decrease of £20. PALMERSTON NORTH. Two inspections of the Palmerston North Fire Brigade and its equipment have been made —viz., 28th November, 1912, and 10th April, 1913. The two following reports, forwarded to the secretary of the Board, cover the respective inspections : — Sic, — Office of Inspector of Fire Brigades, Wellington, 3rd December, 1912. Following upon my recent inspection of the Palmerston North Fire Brigade and its equipment, I have the honour to forward the following report for the consideration of your Board : — At the inspection muster held at 7.30 p.m. on the 28th ultimo there were present the Superintendent, Deputy, and eighteen firemen : these, with five on leave, accounted for twenty-five out of the total strength of twenty-six then on the roll. Some wet practice and rescue drill was carried out in a very satisfactory manner, but more exercise is required in the picking-up drill. An inexpensive ambulance-box containing the requisite materials for first aid in the accidents common to fire-brigade work should be provided, furnished with, say, the following : Friar's balsam; medicated cotton-wool for first-aid dressing of burns, and carefully wrapped in oiled silk to prevent septic contamination; lint; triangular and rolled bandaging; sticking-plaster, safety-pins, and a pair of scissors. A few splints might also be carried. Comprising such a large area as your borough does, a system of fire-alarms is urgently required, and if a return adequate to the expenditure on the new fire-station and on the firemotor shortly to arrive is looked for the need for alarms is further accentuated. Taking advantage of the private telephones by adopting the suggestions as already explained to the Chairman and other members of your Board, a fairly good substitute at a very small cost will be provided that will serve until such time that your Board's finances will allow of the installation of an up-to-date street fire-alarm system. T have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. Sir,— 18th April, 1913. An inspection of the Palmerston Fire Brigade and its equipment was made on the 10th instant, and in that connection I have the honour to forward the following report for the consideration of your Board : — During the afternoon the new combination hose, pump, and ladder motor-car was taken out for a trial run, that proved very satisfactory. At the inspection muster there were present the Superintendent, Deputy, and nineteen firemen : these, with one on duty and four on leave, accounted for the full strength of twenty-six then on the roll. The motor-car was taken to a position near the corner of Rangitikei Street and the Square, where the motor fire-pump was got to work direct from the town mains, first with one delivery, then with two deliveries, and with various-sized nozzles, and pressures varying from 160 lb. to 200 lb. were maintained. The ladder was pitched over the Clarendon Hotel, and a delivery got to work from the roof of that building. The motor was then taken into Cuba Street, opposite the fire-station, and further drills carried out with the ladder. Taking into consideration the comparatively short space of time the motor-car appliance has been in the possession of the brigade, the ladder, pump, and the car itself were handled in a highly satisfactory and efficient manner. Two nozzles of larger diameter, one \\ in. and one If in. diameter, also one two-into-orie breeching-piece, are required for the more efficient working of the motor pump. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades. The newly acquired 50 h.p. combined hose, pump, and ladder motor-car machine has now been in active service for some six months. It has been run in response to a number of calls, is giving every satisfaction, and has proved a valuable addition to the brigade's equipment. At first the engine was a little slow in starting, but, as suggested, a small priming-tank connected with the induction-pipe was fitted on the dash-board, and the Superintendent reports that it has proved successful. There is a still further improvement in the borough water-pressure; that now averages 85 lb. during the day and 115 lb. at night. The brigade attended twenty-nine calls, which included twenty-one actual fires within the district, as against nineteen fires during the previous year, an increase of two. The average attendance of members of the brigade at twenty-six calls (Nos. 1, 4, and 24 omitted) was 193 per call, or 86 - 2 per cent, of the strength. The fire loss amounted to £2,608, as compared with £3,877, a decrease of £1,269. The estimated cost of the brigade for the year 1913-14 is £1,842 9s. Id., as against £1,724 Is. 4d., an increase of £118 7s. 9d., due to the appointment of an additional permanent fireman.