THE NEW FIRE BRIGADE.

Evening Star, Issue 3924, 22 September 1875, Page 2

THE NEW FIRE BRIGADE.

The gentlemen who had applied to be enrolled members of the new Fire Brigade met, by invitation, the CRy Council Fire Brigade Committee at the Council Chambers last evening. Thoro were present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Campbell. Leary, and deeVfS, aud there was a large attendance of applicants.

The Mayo« said the members of the Fire Brigade Committee and himself were please i to ree ~o very large an attendance in answer to the iavita ion that had been issued, and from the v. ry hearty manner in which a response had bona made to the iavitati n he had no doubt that an effi iea- Brigade w >uld be formed. The committee were desirous «>f allowing every latitude to ihc Brigade, as a volunteer body, to appoint its own officers, to make its own rules, and so forth. One point the committee had determined on, and that was to iusur.i the Jives of the mcmb rs ol the Brimvi aso that in cose of death, their relatives would receive the amount insured for ; or should the insured live to a g ; ven age, Giu amount ot his insurance o handed to himse’f. He suggested that the meeting should appoint a committee to confer with tne Fire Brigade Committee, in order to arrive at some conc’usion as to ai rasgements. Ihe Council was desirous to bo liberal; aud in the ev«r>| of the sum proposed not proving suiiiuieni:, the Council would, at any time, on its ooiug shown to bo necessary, grant a further sum. Hia Worship then read the following proposals : the Corporation to provide plaat and pay for repairs and maintenance. 1.500 per annum to be expended by tie Council to cover all other expenses. Surplus to form Life and Accident Fund, -.layer to b ( * one of tho trustees of tne fund. The L2OO leceived from the Insurance Companies to form part of the abovementioned L6OO. Brigade to consist of forty members, inclusive of officers. All voluntary subscriptions to b > dealt with by the Brigade. Iu the eveut of disbandment, all accumulated , funds from Corporation contributions to remain the property of the Corporation. Periodical statements of expenditure to be furnished aud audited bv the City Auditors. Negotiations are poking with the Government for the life insurance of members during membership, A contingent of fifteen members residing north of Octagon to form the North Dunedin stubdivision, with power to elect their own foreman, these fifteen men being portion of tho total of forty. Captain and all other officers to be chosen by the Brigade, as a whole, the Brigade having the option of requesting the Council to appoint a captain. Should a paid captain bo appointed his salary to be paid out of the LSOO alieady mentioned. The brigade to make their own rules, if not inconsistent with the forgoing. A majority of three-fourths of the members necessary to carry a motion for disbandment.

_ Leary said the proposals were an in dication ol the basis on whi-h it was cousio'ered the brigade should he formed. With i egard to the sum mentioned as a contribution 1100, that was an amount which it was not intended to be strictly adhered to. Or. He ves ( aid as regarded rules, the new Brigade could adopt or amend those of the late Brigade, Rethought it wou'd be advisable for the meeting to appoint a commi'tee to confer with the Council’s Committee for the election of a captain, because there was no dout-t that the success of the Brigade would depend ou having a good captain. Mr Johnson said they should start fair. 1 hey could not have a brigade of forty men for the r-vun of money mentioned. Mr Nicholson suggested that as the Mayor had htty-three nxtnes a ballot should T.ke place, and those elected should arrange the business; °

The Mayor and CouncilVs left the chamber, so that those present might freely discuss the matter Mr John-on was looted ch,-.itman. The meeting sat for some hours. Messrs Bowers. Johnston, Horsey, and B. Jones were elected a committee to confer with the committee of the City i oimci!_, and arrange the terms on which the new Brigade will be formed