Page:Municipal Handbook of Auckland 1922.djvu/271



Auckland's early fire brigades were volunteer organisations. In the seventies, soon after the formation of the Auckland City Council, under the Municipal Corporations Act, the Fire Brigade became a department of the Corporation, and continued under the Council's control until 1907, when the Auckland Fire Board took over the brigade under the provisions of "The Fire Brigades Act, 1906." The Board, which consists of seven members, one appointed by the Governor, three elected by insurance companies, and three appointed by the City Council, held its first meeting on July 1st, 1907.

The plant at the time of the change of the control consisted of one small motor tender and four pair of horse machines. The Board decided to replace this out-of-date apparatus with modern fire fighting appliances, and immediately acquired a large Thornecroft motor tender, with a speed of forty miles per hour, and capable of carrying twelve men and the necessary first aid equipment. In 1909 a large 120-horse power Dennis Gwynne motor turbine pump, capable of throwing 800 gallons of water per minute, at 120lbs. pressure, was obtained. This was the largest motor pump in existence at that period for fire fighting purposes, and has not yet been superseded.

In 1912 the equipment of the Brigade was increased by a second Thornecroft tender and an electric turntable