Long Service Medals—Iem: e of the Long Service Medal to the following has been approved:
Machine Gun Company—Set. H. Bland; Active 1906-1911, 1921 to present date; Reserve 1918-1915.
Portuguese, Company.—L/Cpl. J. M. B. Gutierrez; Active 1912- 3216, 1919 to present date. twelve hours' work that, the fire was sufficiently subdued to enable the Floats to return to their moorings.
June 12, "A" Gottown, Nee Tai Shing Wharf, Pootung—At 10.57, pin, the Brigade received a call from the Nee Tai Shing Wharf, Pootung, and the Customs and Fire Brigade Floats turned out, manned Heserve Company—Pte. W. vy. by sections of Hongkew and Central Field; Active 1911-1912, 1918-1925; Reserve 1919-1915, 1926 to present date.
Shanghai Scottish.—Captain Wood, M.c, DEM., MIN, ig trans ferred to the Reserve of Officers.
Divisions. After the Floats had travelled about a mile from the Bund, the godown, which was a four-storeyed one, suddenly burst into flames, and," on arrival, was found to be blazing from end to end.
Fire Brigade Report for June, The total number of calls received uring the month was 49, and were as follow:—
Genuine fires within Settlement 26, Fires in half-rated area 9, Chimney fires 2, False alarms 4 (one outside and all with good intent), Outside 7 and Collapse of house 1.
The damage on assessed property within the Settlement was estimated at Tis, 23,826 (Foreign Tls. 1,700: Chinese Tls. 22,126) and in' the half-rated area Tls. 2,775 (Foreign Tls. 0: Chinese Tls. 2,775), whilst property at risk in the Settlement was estimated of Tls. 8,271,860 (Foreign Tls. 2,447,050: Chinese Tls. 824,800) and in the half-rated area Tls. 44,870 (Fofeign Tis, 0: Chinese Tls. 44,870).
No lives were lost at fires, two persons were injured within the! Settlement, and ohe fireman was injured whilst attending a fire outside.
'38 premises within the Settlement. and 7 in the half-rated area were damaged in varying degrees, and 14 premises were destroyed within the Settlement, and 20 straw huts fand shacks were destroyed in the half-rated area.
Tu dealing with the foregoing Brigade machines travelled proximately 4714 miles.
Time occupied was approximately 246 hours 11 minutes.
Hose laid approximately 32,635 fect.
Water used 917,960 gallons.
During the month the Brigade experienced several) heavy fires, mostly outside the Settlement.
The fires more particularly of] note were:—
June 2, at 8.19 pany In 240 Kuting Read, Dwellings and Shops, (Dietrict 'Call, Sinza "A" "B" "0" and' two Sections of Central Divisions).—There is no doubt that a very, late call was given for this fire, for, on arrival, several houses a narrow alleyway behind a row of wooden-fronted shops were found to be well involved and the fire spreading to the East, South and West sides. Efforts were directed towards protecting the adjoining, property, but. these were made somewhat difficult owing to the majority of the alleyways having but one entrance.
Lines of hose were laid on three sides. On the South side, matters were made more difficult' as lines had to be taken over the roofs of Lines of 34" hose were laid and, after 5 hours, the fire was extinguished, though watching and damping down duties continued for several days. This godown contained huge stocks of rice, Paper and seed, and naturally, the damage was extremely heavy.
June 14, at 3.09 pan. 8, "Tysla" (Norwegian Steamer)' 2,700. Ton nage, Kaiyosha Whar}, Pootung. (Sections of Central, Hongkew and Yangtszepo0_Divisions)-—On the arrival of the Yangtszepoo Divie sion, which crossed the river in sampans, No. 2 hold was found to be well alight, and the fire was [threatening the superstructure, With the assistance of the China Merchants Eastern Wharf trailer pump, (which rendered valuable service in the early stages of the fire) the Division wag able to carry on until the arrival of the "Fire Dragon" some minutes later. Then two lines of 34" hose were laid, and various special types of revolving nozzles, ie, were got to work from the different points of vantage. It was also found necessary to use the acetylene cutting sets to make holes the decking so that water could be poured on the actual seat of the fire, In about. six hours, the fire was finally extinguished, and found to have originated in some bales of cork.
June 22, at 0.55 pin, oe. "Adolf Von Bueyer" 5,700. Tons, China Merehante Eastern Wharf, Pootung (Sections of Central, Hongkew and Yangtszepoo Divisions)—In the early stages of this fire, an extremely heavy explosion occurred in No. 2 hold which blew off the hatchway covering and the "strong backs" (the latter four in number, Weighing about 13 tins each, of which two fell in the river, one on the deck of the ship and the other the pontoon deck) besides making a large hole in the bulk head between Nos. 1 and 2 holds, also the bulkhead between No. 2 hold and the baggage room.
A section from Yangtszepoo were the first to arrive, crossing in sampans with hose and gear, and, with the assistance of Mr. Fox, of the China Merchants Wharf, and his trailer pump, were able fo got water on the fire. A few minutes after, the "Fire Dragon" and the Customs Float also arrived, and many lines of 83" hose were laid on to the various decks, and a great number of Inrge jets' were effec tively used into the three holds and cabins. two and three-storeyed houses which took. some considerable time to carry out. During the fire, it was found necessary to bring into use eight single outlet hydrants and six more pumps—altogether thirty jets of various sizes were used. After a strenuous fight lasting The efforts of the Brigade were considerably hampered owing to the fumes, smoke and heat. At about 10.00 'p.m, the fire was prevented from spreading further, but was not finally extinguished until about 630 the following evening, when salvage operations were commenced. about three hours, the fire w got whole of the fore part of the under control and the pumps were able to return to their respective Stations. The resulting damage was fourteen one and two-storeyed houses destroyed, and fifteen others damaged in varying degrees.
June $, at 10.19 pam. "B" Godown, Nee Tai' Shing Wharf, Pootung. (Sections of Central and Hongkew Divisions)—The Brigade received call from the River Police to Nee Tai Shing Wharf, and, as the machines arrived on the Bund, to transfer on to the Fire Floats, a big, glare and volumes of smoke could be plainly seen. On arrival, lines of 31" hose were laid, and several jets got to work, some being used for damping down the other godowns, and, as. soon as~all risk of the fire spreading had: been averted, efforts were concentrated om-.the particular godown involved, and it was not until after about boat was very severely damaged, i.e, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 holds, the dining saloon, some of the Bridge' deck and Bridge itself, This fire is probably the worst that has occurred within living memory on an ocean-going steamer in Shanghai.
Mr, Vu Yah-ching, his responsibil. ties as chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce being at an end, has left Shanghai for Ningpo for a holiday.
We regret to lear that Maestro M. Paci io at present in hospital Fortunately he is not seriously ill and should be able to Teave next week for a vacation till the end of August. Tu the meantime will be understudied by Mr. de Kryger, the 'Aésistant-Conductor, and Mz. Fea,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.