Improvements have been made in the fire call system, the whole system being now worked through the e2ntral effies. The division of the two large central fire districts into four has also facilitated the location of fire and the answering of calls, The speediest way of making known a fire is to telephone number 366, all stations being informed from the central office. Much more use of the telephone made than formerly. The street fire alarms are not much used. At present, there are eighteen street alarms, of a somewhat old type, and it is hoped in the near future that there may be replaced by the more up-to-date _"'close-circuit"" system, one of the chief advantages of which is that it renders \dental calls impossible—though of course no system can obviate malicious false alarms.
Now that a fashion is setting in for the construction of very large foreign buildings, it behoves owners of such premises to equip them well with fire appliances, such as automatic alarms, and sprinklers.
Fire Station accommodation is also a matter to which attention is being given. The Central and Honckew stations are crowded out with gear, and a much needed improvement will have been effected with the completion of the new fire station to be erected at the junction of Range Road and Woosung Road. Plans for this building are now being prepared, and it is probable the building will be completed before the end of this year. The site is an excellent one, being convenient for a very large district and covering the rapid. extensions} along roads towards the north of the Settlement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.