Public Meeting

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 117, 3 May 1888, Page 3

Public Meeting

. The meeting held last night in the Foresters' Hall was very well attended, The Mayor, Mr G-oodbehere, occupied th c chair. He read the following report, which, on the motion of Mr C. Bray, seconded by Mr 3. J. Thompson, was unanimously adopted: — " Your Committee beg to make the following reeominendations — (1) That applications be invited from those willing to form a Fire Brigade, Fire Police, and Salvage Corps. Those who are present at the meeting who are desirous of joining such a body could put their names down at once, and a list might be left at Mr Carthevp'B for signature by others. (2) That a subscription list be opened for funds to erect a stand and buy a fire bell, to be erected in the {Square, ■ the Borough Council- to ' be asked to give £ for £ on the amount subscribed ; estimated cost, £30. (3) That the Captain and Lieutenant of the Fire Brigade be appointed iFire Inspectors by the Mayor- . (4) Your Committee have collected sundry items of information relating to engines, organisation of brigades, &c, but think that it would be better to hand all papers relating to these matters over to the Brigade when formed. As the Brigade will have some experienced firemen in its ranks they will be better able to deal with this part of the subject. (5) Sufficient funds have been promised to pay a nightwatchman £2 a week for six months. Applications have been invited accordingly, and the subscribers will elect one of the applicants by ballot this evening. It is recommended that he be on duty from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.; that he carry a bugle to give warning of fire incase he is not near the bell; that he be sworn in as a member of the Fire Police, and that his beat has been so arranged as to take in the residences and places of business of all the subscribers. Your Committee trusts that an energetic Brigade will be formed, and that the Brigade will receive support from the residents and Borough Council in providing it with plant as funds will allow. Recommendations as to wells, &c, we have left to the Brigade. S. Goodbeheke, Chairman." The names . of applicants for the post of nightwatchman were then read out, and a ballot taken with the following result :— Pa wson J., 14; Wenham W., 10; Cornish E., 6; Duncan Gk, 5 ; Noble X, 3 ; Guthrie A., 1 ; Foster J. T.,. 1 ; informal, I; Wm. Spooner, H. McAlister, J. W. Wells, C. Hodges, and W. Salisbury received no votes. Messrs Haybittle and San-dilandsaeted-as scrutineers.

The Mayor was about to declare John.Pa\rßon duly elected when Mr Carthew objected' as Pawson had not elected by a majority of the subscribers to the Niglitvratchuian Fund. The Mayor said in that case a second ballot could be taken fur Pawson and Wenhain, the highest names on the list. ' '.' . Mr Rutherford strongly objected to this course. He consideeed Mr Pawson was duly elected by a majority of votesinaccordanee with the teritis of the Beport, which hadjbeen duly adopted by the meeting. ' . ; „ • After some.' good humored .chaff had been indulged in, in- which Mr Peter Thomson "took a hand," the Mayor ultimately declared- John Pawson duly elected, a decision which was followed with some applause. - - - , : ' The. following gentlemen were appointed an Executive Committee to see that the nightwatchman carried out his duties— Messrs Bray, Carthew, Fowles, and Haybittle. The Mayor then invited all who wished to join a Fire Brigade to come forward and; subscribe their names. The following are the names of those who joined— Messrs C. Bray, H. Worsfold,. J. C. Moray, W. G7 Shearer, H. Donkin, W. Reading, T. C. Foster, W. ChamberlaiH, E. Ranger, G. Henry, W. Wenham. The Mayor »aid the list would be deposited .at Mr Garthew's where others could add their names. With the usual compliment to the, chair the meeting terminated. ?