• Fire-Brigade Matters. ' r
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The Mayor, Aid. Heide, and Councillors Cattley and Shepherd, have been appointed a special committee, by the Harrogate Town Council, to report on the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
The new steam fire-engine for Bristol, which has been supplied by Shand, Mason and Co., Ltd., to which we made a brief reference last week, is to be housed at the Bridewell Street Station of the Avonside city.
Surbiton Fire Brigade Committee is to consider the question of providing a new fire station for the district, and in connection therewith whether the brigade is to remain a horsed one or is to purchase motor apparatus.
Another Dennis Sale.
The Birmingham Fire-Brigade Committee has had under consideration the purchase of an additional motor fire-engine, and the tender of Dennis Bros., Ltd., at £950, has been recommended for acceptance. A sub-committee has visited Bradford, and inspected the Dennis engine in use there.
A Sideslip at Dundee.
The stability of motor fire-engines was demonstrated, at Dundee, on the 8th inst., when the motor tender, upon which Captain Weir was travelling, suffered a. bad side-slip at a sharp turning where the road was in a " greasy " state. The adjoining kerb was hit with sufficient force to throw off four of the firemen, but the vehicle showed no tendency to overturn.
Instructor in Driving for L.C.C. Firemen.
The Fire Brigade Committee of the L.C.C. reports that, as the number of motor fire-appliances had greatly increased in recent years, the Committee has decided, with a view of improving the arrangements for the instruction and training in motor driving of the firemen required to ...eke charge of the appliances, that one fireman at the chief station be specially set apart for this work of instructing in motor driving, and in addition should be in charge of the spare motors at the station, and should take out motor appliances for testing when required. For this additional duty, he is to receive an extra payment of 3s. 6d. per week.
Merton U.D.C. to Consider Tenders To-morrow.
To-morrow (22nd October) Merton Urban District Council will consider the tenders received for the supply of a motor fire-engine. It is understood, should the result of an inspection be satisfactory, that the majority of the members favour the acceptance of a tender of Messrs. Merryweather and Sons for an engine from stock at £625. This engine was built for Peru, but the order was cancelled ; the engine has never been used. It will be fitted with first-aid apparatus for another £52 10s., and the engine complete in every respect will cost £677 10s. A German firm sent in a quotation at £580. The objection taken by members to the ae
eeptaace of this tender is that the firm has just started in the business, and that it would be wiser for the Council to go to a British firm which has a reputation to uphold.
Truth Versus Prejudice.
In the cold light of fact, certain residents in Blackheath are made to look rather foolish. On the completion of the new motor fire-station at Charlton, the L.C.C. decided to abolish the smaller station in Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, whereupon 32 residents signed a protest alleging that there was no certainty of a motor fire-appliance's reaching a fire " as they frequently break down," and that the length and steepness of the hills to be traversed would prevent the appliance's reaching the central part of Blackheath in less than 20 minutes. In reply to this, the L.C.C. Fire-Brigade Committee has carried out actual tests, showing that the district indicated can be reached under the new arrangement in less than four minutes, including the time taken in turning out, and it is further stated that, since the Lee Green station was opened in November, 1906, none of the motor appliances have on any occasion become disabled while proceeding to a fire. " Motor fire appliances," the committee adds, "have long since passed the experimental stage, and we are advised that under the present stringent conditions of maintenance a breakdown is not any more likely with a motor than with e horse appliance."