NEW FIRE CHIEF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1430, 3 May 1912, Page 4

NEW FIRE CHIEF.

MR. H. TAIT APPOINTED. The City Council Inst evening consider* ed, in committee, tho position created by the departure of Mr. W. S ; O'Brien, lata superintendent of 'She Tire Brigade. When the council resumed in open meeting it was announced that Mr. H. Tait (who is at present deputy-superintendent, | and has been in .charge of the brigade j since Mr. O'Brien left) had been appointed superintendent at a salary, to commence, of ,£3OO a year. The question of appointing a netv deputy-superintendent uiid filling any further vacancies. in tho brigade is to ba considered by the Fire Brigade Committee, which will afterwards report to Che council. Mr. Tait vras born in ISB2, so that ho is now just thirty years of age. lie is a New Zealandcr by birth, who joined tho Wellington Brigade ill 1900, when he was eighteen years old, and has served in it ever since. For some years he worked under Superintendent Hugo (now Government Fire' Inspector for tho Dominion); and had impressed npoa him the value of severe discipline and strict application to business. Steam fire engines were theii being used, and Mr. Tait sat for and obtained an engine-driver's Ha was appointed engine-driver to the brigade in 1902, and has since made himself familiar with all departments and sections of the fire-fighting work and appliances. In 1904 liu became assistant foreman, and in 1005 was promoted to the position of acting-foreman. Promoted to be foronian in October, 1905, he held that position until July, 1908, when lie was made deputv-superintendent of tho brigade. That'offioo he has filled up to the pre sent time.