The work of bringing the Fire Brigade service up to the growing needs of the Settlement is constantly proceeding. Valuabl> work has been done with the turn-table escape, with its 85 ft, ladder, and the motor turbine pump having a capacity of 500 gallons per minute. Two similar machines of 400 gal-lens capacity are on order, but when partially completed both were "commandeered" by the Government at Home and converted into motor lorries, their speed rendering them particularly useful. An elretric tender is also on order, but its delivery has been delayed in consequence of the war. Two steam engines drawn by hors" power have done service for over forty years, we understand, and the time has probably come for giving then an honourable retirement, the tendency now being to make the ser vice al complete motor servic A valuable improvement has been sffected in the matter of hose pipes, the use of automatic couplings lace of the old—screw-coupling? sfiording a great saving of time at fires. The demand for equipment is increased by the fact that two distinct classes of bni'dings have to be provided for, and special new equipment for Chinese buildings is being got together.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.