OTAKI FIRE BOARD

Chronicle (Levin), 13 December 1946, Page 2

OTAKI FIRE BOARD

FINAL MEETING OF YEAR The quarterly meetings of -li£ Otaki Fire Board was heid on /Veunesday night. There were pres•nt: jvlessrs. Edhouse (chairman), Cierke, Cook, Giinblett, Rhodes (secretary) and Sharp (supermiendent). , Prior to the commencement oi business, the chairman iriade fe-i-,i,g reference to the recent decease •t Mr F Desmond, who had been a member of the board for the past ave years. He moved that the late Mr Desmond's services be placed on record, and that condolence be sxpressed. After other members had endorsed the chairman s remarks, all stood .in silence as. a mark of respect.- ' -■ ; Accounts totalling .-£130 13s 8d vere passed for payment, and the ,ecretary.'s iinancial 'Statement to date receiye&'and- appfpved,- The' •;iupeiriritendent"s . repoft . ;Was. also approved,.' and, he and „ members of the brigade were' conimerided for hne jsaves recently mkde. • , ' The resignation- of Firfeman Bird was received, and Mr. M. Larsen eiedted to'flll.the vacaney.' y

' It was deeided th'a-t m regard to the letter from the Otaki Borough Council. concerning' the' recent use of the engine .at. the . waterworks that same be approved,. but that the cheque- be. returned to the council for psyment direct as the more correct procedure, and further that on any future occasion, in view of insurance and other implications, that any use of the, engine for other than strictly. board inatters should flrst be formaily. arranged through the secretary, who cauld _ without dglay complete insurance requirettients, etc.- ' At the conclusion of the meeting, the chairman referred to the retirement of Mr. Cle'rke. Mr. Cierke, he stated, had represented the insurance companies on the board since its inception 21 years ago. and held the unique record of not having missed a single meeting. He had seeii - the board grow to th^ pre'sent modern building, engine and fife fighting plant. Mr. Cierke had also been chairman of the board for a good many years, In asking Mr. Cierke to accept a brace of pipes as some small recognition of hls flne services, Mr. Edhouse wished him a well-earned and enjoyabie retirement, mentioning in particular . bowls. in which Mr., Cierke, was prominent. Other members endorsed the chairman's sentiments, and Mr.

Sharp, m appropnate words, , thanked Mr. Cierke. i Mr. Cierke suitably replied, mentioning that the Otaki Board and the brigade had worked together as harmoniously and successf.ully as any board he knew. The brigade comprised a particularly fine team of men. The chairman then extendcd the season's greetings to all, which were heartily reciprocated. The superintendent's report read as follows: "All equipment is in good order exceptlng some hose', which has given trouble at two recent fires. I intend to check all hose thoroughly at the earliest ^pportunity. Six calls have been given during ,the quartcr. Three "himney fires were effectivelv handled. but fires at Mr. Stocking'o joinery factory, a China ma.n's bach and Mr. T. Bevan's residence were on each occasion practically beyond control. It is pleasing to note, howsver, that on each occasion articies pf value were salvaged. At all fires, practises and parades a ' good attendance of members has beoo maintaihed.''