Feilding Fire Brigade.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 89, 9 October 1894, Page 2

Feilding Fire Brigade.

PUBLIC MEETING. A well attended and enthusiastic meeting of the citizens of Feilding was held in tbe Foresters' Hall last evening - Hi& Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Carthew) being in the chair, — to take into consideration the financial position of the Feilding Fire Brigade, and adopt some method of wiping off the existing debt on the plant, and placing the Brigade on a sounder footing A large number of tbe members of tbe Brigade were also present, in uniform. In opening the meeting the chairman explained what it had been called for, and stated that it must be patent to every citizen that a well organised Fire Brigade was the best institution a town could boast of. He spoke in terms of praise of the valuable services the Brigade had rendered since its organisation in saving property, and this was exemplified at the recent fire. At present the Brigade was in financial difficulties, and he hoped some scheme would be propounded. He would ask ('apt. Eade to place tbe financial position of the Brigade before the meeting Captain Eade then placed figures before | the meeting showing a debt existing over tbe engine and plant of £84, which, placed against their assets, viz.— Engine and plant £200, subsidy due by Council £25 and cash at bank £84, total £259, left them £175 to the good. It was two years since any payment had been made on the engine and plant, and they were continually being asked for it. The Counoil had been applied to for help, but apparently were not m a position to do so Tbe amount actually paid on the Fire Engine was L 227 of which sum the Brigade contributed L 124, and tbe Borough Council LIOB. About L7O bad been paid for interest. Captain Eade having replied to several questions Tbe chairman thought all present must be perfectly satisfied, from the Captain's explanations, that the Brigade were in urgent need of assistance. In reply to Mr Kirton, Captain Eade stated that the cash in the bank was Bimply the donationsreceived since last fire. Mr E Goodbehere enquired what the Brigade would reqnire annually to keep it going, supposing the present debt was liquidated ? Capt. Eade : It was a broad question. They could spend a lot of money judiciously. If they had a good water supply it would require a comparatively small sum to keep a manual engine. He thought they should be provided with two horses for every fire, as after pulling the engine for a considerable distance men were unfit to do much. (Hear, hear.) The hose was not in good repair, but would last several years. They wanted a new engine shed, and connections for engine to enable them to put ou three branches instead of one as at present, and several wells sunk in the town. He thought £80 annually would keep the Brigade as it is, and allow it to grow at the same time. Mr Corpe had offered to allow the Brigade to erect a shed on a section of his near the Square, and Mr Bastings had made a similar offer, but these would ;not be permanent. He would hke to see the townspeople more willing to lend a hand at pumping when a fire occurred ; they had great difficulty in getting volunteers at the last fire. He would suggest that on occasion of fire someone should ring the school bell to wake people at that, end of the town. (A voice : Good idea, can't hear this oue up there.) Thought the Insurance Companies should recognise the Brigade's services by giving one per cent on amount of property saved ; it would encourage the men. Mr Bastings said he had two propo- 1 sitions to make, but would make a few remarks first. It was every citizen's duty to heartily support the Brigade and encourage them in their work. If some decisive steps were not taken they would some day find Feilding in ashes, aud but for the exertions of the Brigade at the recent fire the result would have been muoh more disastrous, They must strengthen it, and do something to encourage the men. He would suggest building a room where they could meet and pass enjoyable evenings in reading, etc. Thought the Counoil should do something in this way ; the additional tax on the ratepayers would not be heavy. People should be generous with their donations before, and not after, a fire, and the present was a favorable opportunity for this. He would move the following resolutions : (1) That it is imperative iv the interests of property holders aud residents of Feilding that the Feilding Fire Brigade receive the support of the pubhc, so as to place it on a more satisfactory footing, and that a committee be appointed by tbis meeting to take such steps as they may deem fit to devise means for the consummation of the same. (2) That a donation list be now opened for the purpose of forming a fund for the support of the Brigade. The mover opeued the list with a donation of £5, and stated that he would gladly subscribe the same amount as long as he was in Feilding. (Applause). Mr Kirton suggested that if householders were to contribute a weekly sum towards the Brigade funds, say one shilling, on the same basis as they now paid the nightwatchman, sufficient revenue would be provided. The amounts could be collected tjy the nightwatchman, and handed in weekly to the Captain of the Brigade. Re Captain Eade's remarks as to a number of men declaring themselves | willing at all times to stick to the pump j it would be much better if such men en. j listed into the ranks of the Brigade at once, indulged iv praotice, aud became competent members. He thought that if the contributions, as suggested, were made by householders the debt would be cleared off in a year ; a shilling a week would not be felt, and the Brigade would always have money in hand to pay for labour at the engine when such was noeded. That part of the subject deserved very serious consideration. Mr Sherwill thought Mr Kirton's idea an excellent one. The Brigade would derive less benefit from donations than if a small amount was paid weekly. Mr Bastings agreed that the idea was a good one, but held that all largely interested townspeople should give an aunual subscription of say £5. Mr Edmund Goodbehere : Thoso who were willing to subscribe should do so by all means, but they might still go to others for the one shilling per week. He thought the wells one of vie most important matters. Although the fjqiiricil's funds were yery low at the prese^i tin^e they might still afford a little,. " Mr James Stevens would prefer annual instead of weekly subscriptions. The Fire Insuranoe Companies should be asked to contribute, and the Borough Council should give £ for £ for mouey subscribed in town. The Chairman eventually put the lst proposition to the meeting, which was seconded by Mr Goodbehere and carried. The 2nd proposition of Mr Bastings was also carried, and the following were elected a committee to take further aotion in the matters, viz. ; — Messrs A. R. Allan, C. Bray, juur., H. Bastings, Jas. Stevens, Cooper, E. Goodbehere, H. L. Sherwill and the Mayor and the officers of the Brigade. iir 0. B r &y, senr., movod, That the Council should authorise 'that ' the sum of 2/6 per hour should be paid to a body of 42 men to work the eugiue on occasion of fire." This was unanimously carried. Messrs C. Bray, junr., P. Thomson, E. , J. Johnson and J. Cobbe, spoke cju vari- , oue matters coauected with the Brigade ' :

■M-i-i----l----------_W and a vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. A number of those in the hall added their names to the subscription list, and the respectable sum of nearly £80 was subscribed. The committee as appointed afterwards met, when Messrs Bastings, Cobbe and Stevens were elected a canvassing committee, and Mr Goodbehere secretary and treasurer. The committee will again meet on Tuesday next, in Mr C. Bray's office, at 7.80. p.m. J