Feilding Fire Brigade

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 130, 22 April 1893, Page 2

Feilding Fire Brigade

A general meeting of the above was held on Thursday evening last. Captain Peter Thomson presided, and there was a lar^e attendance of members present. The chairman said the question of raising funds to paj off the Brigade's liabilities was the first matter to bring before the meeting. A auin of about £70 was owing on tho engine, and he iuvited those present to state their views as to iow the mouey should be raised. They were practically without any regular income, and the chairman stated that several small accounts had been paid out of his own pocket. Mr Carthew considered that this matter of raising funds should not be yery difficult, and suggested that a series of impromptu concerts should be held say once a month, and bj these means the question of finance could easily be got over. A member said that at the present time the Borough Council contributed £25 a year to the support of the Brigade, and the question arose whether the Council should be asked to take over the Brigade or whether the members of the Brigade should endeavour to wipe off the debt in accordance with Mr Carthew's suggestion. Mr Carthew thought the Council would not fall id with the idea until the Bri gade was out of debt. Mr Taylor was strongly opposed to the affair being handed over to the Council. Ultimately, after a long discussion, the following motion proposed by Lieutenant Eude. and seconded by Mr Parker was carried : that the Council be approached with a view to taking over the Brigade together with the existing liabilities amounting to between £70 and £80. Lieutenant Eade then proposed, and Foreman Keen seconded, that Messrs It. F. Haybittle, Reade, and Moray be asked to get up a concert to take place on the 12th of May next. — Carried. The Chairman then read a circular from the United Fire Brigades Association forwarding an appeal on behalf of the relatives of the late Captain Hounslow of Masterton, and ex-supeiintendent P. Robertson of Dunedin. Several small sums were collected at the meeting, and the list will remain, open until the end of May. Captain Thomson said the next business was the appointment of officers for the ensuing year. He did not intend to offer himself for re-election as Captain, as be thought that ho ought to give placo to a younger man. Tho resignation was accepted with regret, much against thn wi?h of those present, who urged Mr Thomson to hold the office for another twelve months, but this be firmly declined to do, although he assured the members that he should still continue to take a lively interest in the Bi trade's welfare. The undermentioned officers were thon elected :— Lieutenant Eade was unanimously elected Captain ; Foreman Keen was chosen Lieutenant ; Messrs Ranger and Belfit wero elected Foremen ; Mr 11. WoTsfold Secretary : Mr Peter Thomson Treasurer; and Messrs Thomson and Carthew were authorized to sign cheques. Mr J. C. Morey was elected an active member of the Brigade. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers closed tho proceedings.