357
12. Although the alarm bell is sounded when assistance is required at Wanchai, an arrangement has been made by which only a certain number of the Fire Brigade, who are told off month by month for the purpose, are allowed to go, as it is not desirable that the whole of the Brigade should be absent from the central part of the Town unless absolutely necessary. The alarms continue to be, as heretofore, one bell for the Eastern District from Wanchai to the Murray Barracks, two bells for the Central District from Murray Barracks to the Harbour Office, and three bells for the Western District.
13. While satisfied that the present system of centralisation of engines and men at the Central Fire Station is necessary under existing circumstances, where the men are drawn from the Police Force at the Central Police Station, and have their quarters either there or at the Fire Brigade Station, I am of opinion that the completion of the distribution of water will necessitate a radical reconstruction of the Brigade, and that the proper method for the suppression of fires will be found to lie in a number of small stations placed at a convenient distance apart, with hose and other articles ready for immediate use at the outset, steam-engines falling into the background and occupying a subordinate position in the Brigade.
14. I have already had made, as an experiment anticipatory to this change of system, what is known as "The Fire Despatch-box," the points of which are that it can be worked by one man, and contains all the necessary appliances for dealing with a fire at the outset, including three hundred feet of hose, and I anticipate that it, or some other contrivance, will be spread all over the Town and worked by a system which has yet to be devised when the water works are completed.
15. I have much pleasure in stating that the behaviour of the men at fires has been good, and their attendance regular, and that Mr. CAMPBELL, who fills the important post of Assistant Engineer and is responsible for the proper keeping of the appliances and the general efficiency of the Brigade, carries out his duties conscientiously and with satisfaction.
16. Since the commencement of this year, the Brigade has lost the services of Mr. BREWER, who, I regret to say, after a long illness, has succumbed to it. During the absence on leave of the Superintendent in 1886, he received a special letter of thanks from the Government for the manner in which he had acted as Superintendent. Mr. WAGNER has filled his place, subject to the approval of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies.
17. I enclose a copy of Mr. WAGNER'S report on the state of the engines and also a return of fires and alarms of fires during the year 1889.
The Honourable W. M. DEANE, M.A.,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
H. E. WODEHOUSE, Supt., Fire Brigade,
Copy.
GOVERNMENT FIRE BRIGADE DEPARTMENT,
2nd January, 1890.
SIR, I have the honour to submit herewith my report on the state of the Government Fire-engine for the year ended 31st December, 1889.
In December last, the launch was docked for repairs, and the Fire and Screw engines received a thorough overhaul. Steamer No. 1 (Floating engine), by Messrs. Merryweather & Co., has been 22 years in service. The water tanks were taken out of the launch, scraped, painted, and repaired. They have now been in long use, and are considerably corroded and pitted on the insides, so much so, that I would recommend new ones to be fitted during the early part of next year.
During the year, the engine has not been disabled at any fire, and is now in good working order.
Steamer No. 2, by Messrs. Merryweather & Co., has been 21 years in service. In August last, it received a thorough overhaul. During the year, it has not been disabled at any fire, but on two periodical trials, it was completely disabled, on one occasion, by the bursting of one of the boiler tubes, and on the other, by the failure of one of the cylinder covers.
This engine is of obsolete type for land purposes, being complicated in design, cumbersome to transport owing to its great size and weight, and slow to generate steam. The increase of the areas of maximum water pressure that can be attained is 55 lbs. per square inch. The steam pistons over that of the plungers is so small that, with the present boiler pressure, the pressure is considered... The increase of buildings of an inflammable nature on levels with Lyndhurst Terrace and Wellington Street, and the increased height of new buildings on the lower levels, renders the engine absolutely worthless for any other purpose than that of feeding. Its upkeep and consumption of fuel are very expensive compared with the modern and more powerful engines. In my last year's report, I recommended a new fire-box to be fitted to the boiler. This expenditure was not sanctioned, and I consider the engine not worth the outlay now, and would recommend that it be disposed of by tender, and the proceeds go towards the purchase of an engine of modern type, similar to No. 5. The engine is in good working order compatible with its age and worn-out condition.
Steamer No. 3, by Shand & Mason, has been 10 years in service, and the boiler 2 years. During the year, it has not been disabled at any fire, and is now in good working order.
Steamer No. 4, by Shand & Mason, has been 7 years in service. In March last, it received a thorough overhaul. It has not been disabled at any fire, and is in good working order and a most efficient engine.
Steamer No. 5, by Shand & Mason, has been 3 years in service. In November last, it received a thorough overhaul. It has not been disabled at any fire. It is in good working order and a most efficient engine.
Volunteer Engine, by Shand & Mason, has been 9 years in the service of the Volunteer Brigade, and 1 year in the Government. It has not been disabled at any fire, and is in good working order.
The Assistant Engineer and Engine drivers have attended regularly and promptly to all calls made on the Brigade, and have performed their respective duties in a most satisfactory and creditable manner.
The Honourable H. E. WODEHOUSE, C.M.G.,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
ARTHUR WAGNER,
Engineer, Government Fire Brigade.
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12. Although the alarm bell is sounded when assistance is required at Wanchai an arrangement has been made by which only a certain number of the Fire Brigade, who are told off month by month for the purpose, are allowed to go, as it is not desirable that the whole of the Brigade should be absen from the central part of the Town unless absolutely necessary. The alarms continue to be as heretofore one bell for the Eastern District from Wanchai to the Murray Barracks, two bells for the Central District from Murray Barracks to the Harbour Office, and three bells for the Western District.
13. While satisfied that the present system of centralisation of engines and men at the Central Fire Station is necessary under existing circumstances where the men are drawn from the Police Fores at the Central Police Station, and have their quarters either there or at the Fire Brigade Station, I am of opinion that the completion of the distribution of water will necessitate a radical reconstruction of the Brigade, and that the proper method for the suppression of fires will be found to lie in a number of small stations placed at a convenient distance apart with hose and other articles ready for immediate use at the outset, steun-engines falling into the background and occupying a subordinate position in the Brigade.
14. I have already had made as an experiment anticipatory to this change of system what is known as "The Fire Despatch-box," the points of which are that it can be worked by one man, and contains all the necessary appliances for dealing with a fire at the outset including three hundred feet of hose, and I anticipate that it or some other contrivance will be spread all over the Town and worked by a system which has yet to be devised when the water works are completed.
15. I have much pleasure in stating that the behaviour of the men at fires has been good, and their attendance regular, and that Mr. CAMPBELL, who fills the important post of Assistant Engineer and is responsible for the proper keeping of the appliances and the general efficiency of the Brigade carries out his duties conscientiously and with satisfaction.
16. Since the commencement of this year the Brigade has lost the services of Mr. BREWER who regret to say after a long illness has succumbed to it. during the absence on leave of the Superintendent in 1886, received a special letter of thanks from the He was a very zealous and efficient Officer, and Government for the manner in which he bad acted as Superintendent. Mr. WAGNER subject to the approval of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies.
His place has been filled by
17. I enclose copy of Mr. WAGNER'S report on the state of the engines and also a return of fires and alarms of fires during the
year 1889.
The Honourable W. M. DEANE, M.A.,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
H. E. WODEHOUSE, Supt., Fire Brigade,
Copy.
GOVERNMENT FIRE BRIGADE DEPARTMENT,
2nd January, 1890.
SIR,I have the honour to submit herewith my report on the state of the Government Fire- engine for the year ended 31st December, 1889.
In
December last, the launch was docked for repairs, and the Fire and Screw engines received a thorough Steamer No. 1 (Floating engine), by Messrs. Merryweather & Co., has been 22 years in service.
been in long use, and are considerably corroded and pitted on the insides, so much so, that I would overhaul. The water tanks were taken out of launch, scraped, painted and repaired. They have now "recommend new ones to be fitted during the early part of next year.
During the year, the engine has not been disabled at any fire, and is now in good working order.
it received a thorough overhaul. During the year it has not been disabled at any fire, but on two Steamer No. 2, by Messrs. Merryweather & Co., has been 21 years in service. In August last periodical trials it was completely disabled, on one occasion, by the bursting of one of the boiler tubes, and on the other, by the failure of one of the cylinder covers.
This engine is of obsolete type for laud purposes, being complicated in design, cumbersome to transport owing to its great size and weight and slow to generate steam. The increase of the areas of maximum water pressure that can be attained is 55 lbs. per square inch. the steam pistons over that of the plungers is so small that with the present boiler pressure, the is considered the increase of buildings of an inflammable nature on levels with Lyudhurst Terrace and A pressure, which, when it Wellington Street, and the increased height of new buildings on the lower levels renders the engine absolutely worthless for any other purpose than that of feeding. Its upkeep and consumption of fuel consider the engine not worth the outlay now, and would recommend that it be disposed of by tender, are very expensive compared with the modern and more powerful engines. In my last year's report I recommended a new fire-box to be fitted to the boiler. This expenditure was not sanctioned. and the proceeds go towards the purchase of an engine of modern type, similar to No. 5. The engine is in good working order compatible with its age and worn out condition.
Steamer No. 3, by Shand & Mason, has been 10 years in service, and the boiler 2 years. During
the year it has not been disabled at any fire, and is now in good working order.
Steamer No. 4, by Shand & Mason, has been 7 years in service. In March last it received a thorough overhaul. It has not been disabled at any fire, and is in good working order and a most efficient engine.
Steamer No. 5, by Shand & Mason, has been 3 years in service. In November last it received a thorough overhaul. It has not been disabled at any fire. It is in good working order and a most efficient engine.
and 1
Volunteer Engine, by Shand & Mason, has been 9 years in the service of the Volunteer Brigade, year in the Government. It has not been disabled at any fire, and is in good working order. The Assistant Engineer and Engine drivers have attended regularly and promptly to all calls made on the Brigade, and have performed their respective duties in a most satisfactory and ereditable
manner.
Acting Colonial Secretary.
The Honourable H. E. WODEHOUSE, C.M.G.,
I have the honour to be.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
Supt., Government Fire Brigade.
ARTHUR WAGNER,
Engineer, Government Fire Brigade.
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