Presentation Of Gold Star And Gifts From Town And Brigade

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 5, 9 December 1947, Page 5

Presentation Of Gold Star And Gifts From Town And Brigade

A gathering of men representative of all sections of this community and including visitors from the Fire Brigades of Qpotiki, Rotorua, Tauranga and other Bay of Plenty districts attended the Winter Show Building, Whakatane on Saturday night to see Superintendent F. H. Stewart, who is retiring from the leadership of the local. Fire Brigade, receive his Gold Star for 25 years’ fire-fighting service, and gifts from Whakatane citizens and the Brigade. The Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, presided, and Deputy Superintendent T. Hurndell was toastmaster for the evening, which took the form of a smoke concert, complete with a tasty savoury supper. Despite bad weather, there was hardly an empty chair. Proposing the toast to the Whakatane Brigade, .Mr Barry said he was glad of the opportunity to give thanks to the Brigade on behalf of the citizens of Whakatane. Firemen were doing something for the town in which they lived, and that should be the duty of every citizen. Too many were inclined to take every-

thing and give nothing. Whakatane was very well served by volunteer organisations, the Fire Brigade and others, but many did not realise just what that service entailed to the men in these organisations.' Superintendent Stewart’s efficiency was reflected in the way in which the Brigade performed its duties at all times.

Foreman B. A. Norman replied. “We are losing a very fine officer and one who has the full respect of the firemen and the Board,” remarked Mr S. Shapley, chariman of the Fire Board during his reply to a toast to that body proposed by Deputy Superintendent T. Hurndell. He gave a brief resume of Fire Board work in the district, and publicly thanked the retiring Superintendent for the work he had done. Mr. Shapley read a letter of appreciation from the Underwriters’ Association, whose representatives were unable to be present, which referred to Superintendent Stewart in glowing terms,.