Fire Vol 5 no1

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ISSN 2324-2779 Volume 5 Issue 1 Dec 2013 - Feb 2014 Established 2010

NEWSLETTER OF THE AUCKLAND AUCKLAND FIRE BRIGADE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Editorial

Patron Allan Bruce AFSM, FIFireE

The Society now has nearly 1100 items in its collection, all of which have been numbered, barcoded and added to the database, with a small pile still waiting to be done. This is an amazing achievement for an organization that is only been in existence for 4 years. The word is getting out there that we exist and we have had quite a few items donated by members of the public, who were going to throw them away!

Our web site generates a lot of interest and requests for information on relations who served or fires from the past and often results in some interesting information or photographs coming our way as well. If you have not visited yet take a look and check out some of the old photos. Hint: When you click on a category a link at the bottom right of the page will take you to “Older entries” www.afbhs.co.nz Our Facebook page has 482 followers, heading for the 500 mark, from all parts of the World and the highest number of views on a post was just over 1800!

That’s all for this issue, hope you enjoy the contents

Management Superintendent: Roger Callister Dep. Superintendent: Paul Turner ,NZFS Liaison Secretary/Editor: Colin Prince Treasurer: Laurie Thompson Committee Peter (Sprats) Doughty Kevin Farley Grant Manning Forbes Neil John (High-rise) Walker Gary (GT) Walker Web Master Brendon Pascoe

Colin NZFS Ex Officio Member: Brian Butt, Fire Region Manager

In This Issue: - The Albert Street Fire Bell - Chief Fire Officers Inspection North Shore -1960 - Northcote Fire Brigade -1958 - Retirements in Auckland - 1978 - Report for the Auckland Vol. Fire Police Corps –1980

The Last Fire Call At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.

George Oliver (LOD), Gary Paterson, Ray Paterson, Glen Pearce, Mike Perkins, Ton Perkinson, Neil Petri, Whare Phillips, Sam Pihema, Charlie Pollard, “Roof” Redver Pownal, Russell Preston, Don Redding, “Chiller” Charlie Reid Alan rein, Dick reid, Barry Richards, Charlie Rogers, Gary Rose, Trevoe Sampson, Bob Scott, John Scott (LOD), Ron Shaw, Norm Simpson, Alex Smith, Peter Smith, John Spriggs, Fred Stangham, Bill Sykes Part of a list of “Extinguished Firefighters” Auckland region post 1955 supplied by gOld watch.

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Correspondence To: Auckland Fire Brigade Historical Society P.O Box 68-444 Newton, Auckland 1145, NZ membership@afbhs.co.nz Website: www.afbhs.co.nz Like us on Facebook Membership fees: Full: $15.00 Associate: $10.00 (overseas) Brigade/Corporate: $50.00 Membership year: 1 April—31 March Membership NZ Federation of Historical Societies MOTAT Society—Affiliate UFBA—Associate member Registered Charity number: CC45510

Council, and my father was the successful tenderer.

I do know that the bell with its tower of beautiful Kauri Timber when secured by my father and the structure was dismantled by William O'Hara my grandfather. The purchase was basically to secure the timber.

Granddad was well on in his years when he and probably his elder sons got the fire bell, said to weigh about one ton aboard a horse drawn lorry and it stood for many a year in a back corner of the yard of Dad's coach building business.

Then the dismantled tower that carried the Fire bell in Albert Street Auckland was dismantled by Granddad and was transported to be carefully stored in my Dad's premises under cover.

The timber went into all sorts of structures. I remembered it as beautiful kauri without blemish.

Albert Street fire Bell Before the electric fire alarm system at Albert St, Auckland, came into operation about 75 years ago (This item was written 12 December 1972. Ed) the alarm bell pictured below was the only way firemen could be summoned to a fire.

After the City began using the electric system the bell was bought to Otahuhu, where it was situated on the corner of Atkinson Ave and Great south Road, near the Star Hotel. When the Otahuhu Fire Brigade went electric, the bell was placed at the rear of the Borough Council Chambers, until it went to Sir William Stevenson.

Later it went to a Catholic Church in the Pacific (I bet it is still in use! Ed.)

Notes: 1/New wooden lookout tower built on opposite side of 3/Otahuhu Borough Council Minutes 3/10/1914: Fire Albert Street costing £169 late in 1882.

Bell purchased from W.J O’Hara £25 plus erection.

2/ Letter from Grand Daughter of William O’Hara 12 December 1985: I add this note just to put on record a little bit if "Early Otahuhu” Quite some time back I secured a copy of A BRIEF HISTORY of OTAHUHU published on the seventieth Anniversary of Otahuhu Borough Council.

On page 64 appears a photo of the original fire bell taken around 1920 the said Fire bell was originally erected in Albert Street Auckland.

I am not sure how it was that the said bell and its then tower came on the market, but I have an idea that it was offered for sale by tender by Auckland City

The AFBHS has been asked to speak at several Historical Society meetings throughout the Auckland area over the last 12 months. One of these was the Otahuhu Historical society and they had pulled from their archives all the fire related items for us to view. Among them was the wonderful photo of the Albert St tower (below left) which we asked to get a copy of. When it arrived the other information included on this page was also attached which gives a nice history of a very historic piece of Fire memorabilia. Ed

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Letter to the Secretary North Shore Fire Board Council Chambers Birkenhead

CENTRAL STATION 1915_hours.

A formal parade of Volunteer and Permanent Staff, with the exception of permanent duty crews at Devonport, and Birkenhead, assembled in full firefighting kit and accoutrements with an appliance from each station.

Sir

Those assembled Volunteer and Permanent Staff, numbered 59 made up as follows: An official inspection of the North Shore Fire Brigade Volunteer Officers and men 51 was carried out by Mr T.A.Varley O.B.E., M.I.FireE., Permanent Officers and men 8 and Staff Officer J.McKessar on April 12th 13th 14th Those not in attendance: 1960.

14 Volunteers working Owing to the fact that Mr Varley was to fly from 7 Permanent Staff absent on leave.

Whangarei on the 12th and the drome was closed at that 1 Permanent on Sick Leave. end, it was necessary to travel to Dome Valley near 4 Permanent on duty Birkenhead and Wellsford, to pick up Mr Varley and his Staff Officer Devonport. and transport them to their hotel in Takapuna. The Chief Officer of Whangarei transported them to Dome Valley. FIRE EXERCISE. Chief Fire Services Officers Inspection.

The Chief Fire Service Officer selected Messrs.L.D. Nathan & Co, Ltd.’s and Messrs Smith & Smith Ltd.’s premises in Barry's Point Road for the Fire Exercise.

SCHEDULE. 12th April. In the evening, an inspection of Central Station, appliances, and equipment. Supper was provided by the staff in dining room.

The alarm was given by Automatic Exchange telephone at 2015 hours by Staff Officer J.McKessar (Fire Service Council). Mr Varley indicated the trend of the fire and what was involved including wind direction, inflammable contents, toxic fumes and fuel oil. The total number of appliances attending the call number (8) as follows:

13th April. Inspection of Brigade Records and organisation at Central, all subs-stations Devonport, Birkenhead, East Coast Bays, Greenhithe and Northcote were visited, when appliances and equipment were inspected. The Chief Fire Service Officer questioned the permanent staff at stations permanently manned on equipment and operation. Birkenhead staff provided afternoon tea.

(N.57 & 56 Central Station) (N.52 and Foam Appliance Devonport) (N.55 East Coast Says) (N.51 Northcote) (N.53 Birkenhead) (N.54 Greenhithe).

Note. N.58 Birkenhead was ordered to stand by at Central Station.

1730 hours. Board Members assembled in Boardroom to meet Mr Varley when a number of subjects were discussed, particularly unoccupied bedrooms at some stations.

These analysed are:

The water supply was provided from a hydrant in Barry's Point Road 4" main and via long feed lines Headquarters; (4) required if increased staff is approved (3½”hose) from a hydrant on a 4" main from Anzac St

by Fire Service Council. and from the 15" trunk main in Killarney Street and maintained 8 jets together with an F.B.2 Foam making Birkenhead. (2) One required if increased staff is apbranch and a M.F.20 Foam Generator from the Foam proved, the other occupied by relieving man during ex- Appliance. tended leave periods, and in the event of a member being on sick leave.

In addition thereto, 6 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus were in operation, 4 extension ladders and Devonport. (6) One required for relieving man in the 6 salvage sheets. event of a member being on sick leave.

The final instruction from Mr Varley was that the East Coast Bays. (4) One used nightly by volunteer buildings were collapsing and all personnel were to be member on night duty. evacuated. The Brigades emergency evacuation signal was sounded (intermittent blasts of appliance siren) Northcote. Although this station has no bedrooms, one when all water jets were turned off and the personnel Volunteer member is on night duty and sleeps in watch- returned to their respective appliances, when numbers were checked to ensure all were present. The “make-up" room. instruction was given, and appliances and equipment 3

were made up and returned to Headquarters. After supRetirements at Auckland per a blackboard plan of the exercise prepared by the At a special function in Howick recently, AuckChief Fire Service Officer and his Staff Officer was land and district firemen wished four prominent Bridiscussed. A workman in L.D.Nathan's ignited several gade members the very best on the commencements of fumite bombs during the evolution which created a realtheir retirements. Visitors included Commissioners istic touch.

Thorne and Henderson and all Senior Officers of the Auckland area.

14th April. Unfinished work of checking records not completed were carried out and an inspection of vacant NOEL GLEN, Divisional Officer at Southern Division, Fire Board property at Central Station.

Auckland, left after 41 years’ service and a chequered career covering Hawera volunteer, Parnell Auxiliary, Mr Varley and his Staff Officer were transported 2NZEF Army service, then sessions as officer-in-charge to Whenuapai to return to Wellington. of Water Dept., Parnell Station and Divisional Officer as well as being the ‘Leading light` on matters of Oil (Signed) R. Preston Chief Fire Officer Fire Protection, Port Protection, fires on pleasure boats From the minutes of the North Shore Fire Board Statu- and various other specialties like editing our friendly magazine the ‘Firefighter’ for many years. It can be tory meeting Thursday 28th April 1960 truly said of Noel that he leaves his mark on the Fire Service for many years to come, and he richly deserved FIRE BRIGADE his award of the O.F.S.M. weeks before his retirement.

The Northcote Volunteer Fire Brigade was Noel once crossed the Auckland Harbour in an FWP formed in 1908 and a glance at the old photographs re- powered dinghy as part of the ‘Farmers ‘sponsored veals a number of prominent young men of the district. race. He didn’t win that one, but he won his fair share Over the years there has been attracted to its ranks of other efforts, and he many fine men, who have can take a lot of credit for given of their time and the present standards of talents in making what is Auckland water supplies recognised as an outstandand foam tenders. ing brigade. The first captain was Dick Haynes and RON NEARY refirst turnout to a fire was tired as Deputy Chief Fire on October 17th, 1906, Officer after 38 years of when some scrub at the service, and he also back of what was then the leaves his mark. Ron Wesleyan Church caught served overseas in J fire. We well remember Force, was at Parnell and with what gusto they tackCity stations and could be led this first job. Subseclassed as one of the old quent captains were VV. ‘smoke eaters’ who Northcote Fire Station, Vincent St. (F. Neil photo) Spence, George Lepper, learned to wear a B.A. set the next two holding outstanding records of service, W. and as a firefighter, the result was unstoppable. ProbaP. Roberts, 31 years, 25 of these as captain, and A. bly one of N.Z.’s most experienced and capable fireHurley, 35 years and many years as Superintendent and fighters in the truest sense of the word, he was deeply Station Officer. Alf started work as messenger boy and involved in, or in charge of, some of the trickiest fires worked his way to the top by exceptional merit. in Auckland. He was at John Burns’ fire as a young Many changes have taken place since those early fireman, at the ‘Napier Star` ship fire as an officer, likedays of having, first no reel, then the Hand Reel, and wise the great ‘Farmers’ bulk store in 1963 and as Deptoday the modern motor gets the Brigade to a fire in uty he controlled both the 1977 grain silo fires which quick time and gives the district a wide coverage. The were extinguished with CO2 from bulk tankers. In all of Carnival to raise funds, for this reel was well organised these he, springs to mind as a tenacious, sometimes and a great financial success. The Fire Brigade merits ticklish, but usually proved right, professional. Those the thanks and support of every citizen in Northcote. who chase little white golf balls around grass paddocks Excerpt from “Northcote Golden Jubilee” booklet 1958 have been known to accuse him of the same attitude in trophy hunting.

Northcote VFB was disbanded in 1968 NORM WHITING retired after 41 years’ service and he also carved out a niche of his own and earned his wages well. He came originally from the 4

Onehunga Volunteer Brigade, joined Auckland, rose through the ranks and became involved in his speciality of fire alarms. Those were the days of red boxes on poles, of fire station alarm panels with shutters, paper tapes, punches and gongs. When nobody else really understood ‘line breaks’ and ‘contacts’ and the maintenance was done by firemen themselves, without calling in anybody from the fire alarm company. Despite little formal training in the subject, Norm maintained for over 25 years the ability to talk to, and keep up with the best electronics brains in the growing fire alarm industry, and they will acknowledge that many times he was more right than they were. Norm ‘fathered’ two major control-room change overs, was for a period Fourth Officer of the Brigade and just prior to retirement, achieved registration as an electrical engineer.

GEORGE MENZIES. Every organisation has a man who ranks very lowly on the establishment sheet but sometimes is more important than the boss. George Menzies is such a chap and with his retirement "a very, very long time after he should have", people are still wondering how they are going to fill all the duties George carried out. George was a fireman in pre—war and wartime years (World War II that is) and left, to rejoin in the 1960 era as an alarm tester. He pushed fire alarm boxes, he painted them, he delivered the pay, he ran the welfare club almost single-handed, he kept track of the health and other problems of every single one of over 700 permanent and volunteer members, and their contributions to the fund. He looked after bookings for the rental caravan, etc. He was on equally friendly terms with the Regional Commander and the man who joined yesterday.

To all the above, we write in the present tense and demand they keep fit and well and pop into lots of fire stations for lots of cups of tea in the future.

down attending these Courses.

Our Corps, with the assistance of some of our members wives, catered for the Regional Training Day at Mt. Wellington and also for our Annual Social and Honours night, held at the Mt. Albert War Memorial Hall, which was once again a great success.

We have at present one member with 37 years` service, two with 30 years, one with 26 years, plus several with over five years. l don’t think any other Corps in New Zealand can equal this record of service.

The manning of the Fire Service Canteen is now running smoothly. Our members took it on Anzac Day to the Firth of Thames, a distance of 54 miles and also the other night to a Police operation at Otahuhu.

We have gained seven new members during the year, which includes the members who transferred over from the Papatoetoe Fire Police which is now disbanded, and one member from the Titirangi Corps, who had moved out of their district. This gives us a cover from East to West of approximately 70 kilometres. Our most eastern member is Ploy Martin who has 30 years‘ service and attends nearly every call in the Maraetai, Beachlands area. This area is also the largest that any Corps cover in New Zealand.

We have carried on with our fund raising to go towards our 50 years Jubilee in 1983. Also this year the Corps had their photo taken — it has been five years since the last one.

The Fire Training Department has been very cooperative in helping with our training programme, and l would like to record our appreciation of their assistance over the past year.

Once again, on behalf of all our members, I would like to thank all the Executive Officers from the Regional Commander down, for their co-operation and assistance in any requests that we have made.

Excerpt from “Fire-Rescue & Emergency” magazine February 1980

Excerpt from “Fire-Rescue and Emergency” magazine December 1980

Uninsured House is destroyed

October 13, 1884 On October 7 a five-roomed house, the property of Mr T. W. Doonin, situated immediately at the back part of Report of the Auckland Judge Rogan‘s residence, was burned down (the railway line divides the two properties). It appears that as Volunteer Fire Police corps. the morning train was proceeding from Helensville, the Over the past year our members have attended in excess of 500 calls, this is slightly down on last year`s, residents living close to the house destroyed observed but nevertheless still a good number. They have had 16 quite a cloud of sparks issuing from the funnel of the drills on various subjects and we have been represented engine just as it arrived at and passed the building deat two Provincial Association meetings, and also at the stroyed. In a few minutes the shingles of the building National Fire Police‘s Annual Conference at New Plymouth. We have had two of our Officers attend the were observed to be on fire. Mr Doonon had only reFire Service College’s Fire Police Course in Welling- cently purchased the property and did not insure it; he will, therefore be a considerable loser ton. We now have had five Officers from the Captain 5

Photo Gallery

Top: An interesting line up of recruits at Training centre.

Below: Chemical and acid suits 6