DUNEDIN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2000, 2 October 1869, Page 2

DUNEDIN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

The brigade as recently reorganised, oele. brated its anniversary last night by the usual torchlight procession and supper. The procession was headed by the Battalion band, which played excellent music at intervals along the line of rout®, started from the Engine house, Hat-ay street, at 8 o’clock, and paraded the principal The evening was a quiet one, and the firemen ■were Ihus enabled to make an effective display with their torches. The gear was decorated, and drawn by horses lent by Mr J. C. Chaplin. At about 10 o’clock, the firemen returned to the Engine house, where THU SUPPER was 1 .id. The room was tastefully decorated—a work in which the members appeared to have t-ken considerable care. When the company was seated, the effect of recent changes was but too apparent. Instead of as in former years, there being a goodly number of visitors, there were only three, and the ranks of the firemen themselves have been considerably reduced. The chair was occupied by Captain Wain, who was supported on his right by Mr J. C. Chaplin, and on his left by Captain and Adjutant Atkinson ; and the vice-chair was tilled by Lieut. Hobbs. After the supper, which was provided by Mr It. K. Murray, of .Rattray street, in his best style, had been done full justice, the business of the evening commenced. Mr Secretary Puplett read the fo lowing letter from his Worship the Mayor : —• “City Council Chambers, Sept. 30. “Captain Wain, Circumstances oyer which I have no 'control, prevent my being at your anniversary supper. At the same time 1 take this opportunity of testifying to the efficiency of your officers and men and I think the City should be justly proud of having a body of volunteers who, night and day, are ready to risk their lives to save life and property. I wish you all success in the various spheres in which your lots a - c cast, and may the day he far distant when your services as a fire brigade are required in this City.—l am, &c., “ Thomas Birch, Mayor." The Chairman explained that his Honor the Superintendent was absent, owing to his having made an engagement to at i end a meeting at another place before be received the Brigade invitation. The usual loyal toasts Were given and enthusiastically received. In responding to the toast of “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers.” Captain Atkinson observed with reference to the volunteers, that they had heard from the lips of royalty itself that there was no liner body of Volunteers in the Southern hemisphere than the Otago Volunteers, and he , felt proud at being able to repeat the compli-

ment. The Volunteer force was composed of the same material, thesameblood,and the same man as the British army ; it was only a different system of training. In the volunteer force there was higher education, and higher intelligence than was to be found in the British army. Those elements gave, in a measure, courage ; and possessing as they did a great stake in the Province, the volunteers would, he felt sure, be found equal to their duty, should the time ever come when their active services were required. The toast of “Ttie Superintendent and the Executive Council” were duly received. Mr Treasurer, in proposing the toast of the “ Mayor and Corporation,” said, that the Mayor hid given every assistance in his power to further the interests of the brigade. The captain of the brigade (Mr Wain) had been unremitting in bis exeitions to bring it into its present state of efficiency ; and the officers had ably support' d him in his efforts. When it was remembered that there were many young members in the brigade, and that they had gone through a severe course of discipline during the past twelve months, the exertions of Captain Wain could readily be conceived. As the time for the celebration of their anniversary wore round, some degree of interest was occasioned in refer ence to it, in consequence of its being under the auspices of the City Council, and from the fact of there being so many new members who had not been present on similar occasions. In the early part of last month intimation was given to the City Council that, in terms of the agreement, the brigade intended to celebrate its anniversary in the usual way. The first intimation as to the Council’s intentions was received by the brigade in the shape of a paragraph in the Daily Times ; and the intimation was conveyed in a most objectionable form. The official reply was ony received three days ago. The members of the brigade felt and expressed themselves strongly about the matter ; and considering the voluntary and arduous character of there duties, they considred they should have been treated differently, However, we hoped that the display they made that evening, although not much, would be satisfactory to the Council and citizens. The display had a very good effect, for it demonstrated to the citizens that there w r as a body in the city ready at any time lo risk their lives to save the lives and property of the citizens. Captain Atkinson proposed the toast of the evening, " Success to the Fire Brigade. He expressed his regret at there being but few present, seeing that all classes owed so much to the brigade. Although smaller in the number of men, he had no doubt the brigade would be equally efficient and more workable.

Captain Wain in reply, said that he should like to have seen a larger number of visitors present, and most certainly expected to have seen the Mayor amongst the company. However, they hrd always found the Mayor taking a most hearty interest in the brigade. When the old brigade was disbanded, at the request of the Mayor, and both the promised assistance of Lieutenant Hobbs, foreman Hughes, treasurer baker, and other members of the old brigade, he took upon himself the arduous task of forming another brigade. With the assistance of the gentlemen ho had mentioned, he had accomplished the task. With respect to he felt sure it was notintendedthat any restriction shouldbe be placed upon the members ; and when the accounts were sent in, they would He paid without the slightest demur if found to be correct. The Brigade, however, felt a little aggrieved at their not receiving a reply in a proper manner. With regard to their work, the Brigade had turned out on all occasions in a most satisfactory manner. They had now got a capital supply of water, and better appliances. The Corporation had supplied them with good hose and reels, which at the present time were their principal gear. The Water Company’s mains were being extended throughout the city, and the Brigade, with their appliances, were enabled to reach those high parts of the city, which in former years it was impossible to get to with an engine weighing 30 cwt. in the event of a lire breaking out there, There bad been no fires during the past year, but whenever the bell sounded the members turned out with great alacrity. Mr Mecretary Puflett proposed the toast of “The Visitors,” coupling with it the name of Mr J. C. Chaplin. Mr Chaplin, in reply, said that he considered very bad taste for tlie public bodies not to attend on such occasions as the present. With regard to himself he should only bo too happy to lend the Brigade his horses whenever required. After the visitors had left, Captain Wain said that a most important toast had been omitted during the evening: it was, “The health of the Officers and Members of the Volunteer Band.” They had always be°n very willing to give their services to the Brigade whenever required, and their services on this occasion added very much to the success of the procession. Several other toasts were given, and the remainder of the evening was spent iu a most agreeable manner. Mr Oliver replied in a neat speech on behalf of the Band.