GISBORNE FIRE BRIGADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3980, 13 July 1915, Page 6

GISBORNE FIRE BRIGADE.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The annual general meeting of the Gisborne Fire Brigade was Feld, at the Firci Station last night, when, despite the wet weather, tiiero was an attendance of 20 members present. The roll showed l that 82 musters had taken place during the year, and the attendance at these had been very satisfactory, Superintendent J. Thomson not having missed a single one. ANNUAL REPORT. The secretary (Mr. Dugald Ferguson) presented the annual report, which read as follows: '

“We have received 54 calls during the year, being an increase of nine over last year. 'The value of property involved amounted to £43,320, covered by insurance to the extent of £25,944. The total loss for the year has been £18,378, of which £15,401 was covered by insurance, leaving £2977 to be met <b.y property owners. “During the. year wo have held 20 ordinary meetings and two specials, making a total, including tine 54 alarms, of 82 musters. The attendance this year has been well maintained, the meetings showing an average of nearly 19, and the fires nearly 17. “In February the annual bi-annual demonstration of the United Fire Brigades’ Association was held in Timaru, when a team went from here. Though unsuccessful in any cf the events, they put up some good times. W. Fraser also attended: the conference, and gave a very interesting report on bis return. No socials of an}' ’kind were field this year on account of the war.

“The Fire Brigade has at Inst arranged for a new' station, the contractor having made a start a few weeks ago, so that by this time next year we should be well settled in our new quarters. “Our financial position Las. bleu well maintained. We started: the year with a credit balance of £24 9s in the general account, .the expenditure amounting to £35 7s, leaving the* account slightly overdrawn on account of not having a social this year. Through liberal donations the benevolent fund account shows a substantia! increase. Starting the year with, a credit balance of £67 10s, relief granted amounted to £6 13s 6d, leaving a credit balance of £143 7s Id. “In conclusion, the thanks of the Brigade are due to the following for the healthy state of our balancesheet: J. H. Kane, Davys, Third and

Mitchell, J. H. Ormond, late Dir. lb. P. Joyce, Grundy and Shennan, Ltd., J. F. Jettne, Miss Do Costa, Mr. H. J. Finn, J. Lowndes, T. Adams, D. J. Barn,’, F. Harris, J. Thomson, R. Robertson, Mrs. Hayes, and Haiti School Committee. Superintendent Thomson congratulated the members of the Brigade on their attendance during the year, which lie said Lad been very sat.sfac-

tory. He also said he wished to congratulate them upon the way in which they had worked at the fires. At the big fires particularly lie had been very proud of the way in which the men had worked. There had at some of the smaller fires been delay in getting to the outbreaks, but tins had bet n the fault of the driver of the motor engine and not- the fault of the. members of the Brigade. They had been handicapped during the year by the present small fire station, but they

were looking forward to soon being in tlieir new station. This would be an inducement to the men to keep more together at thejstation, and he felt sure that when they were once installed in the new station they would be able to do much better work. Deputy-Superintendent G. Wildish

proposed the adoption of the report and .balance-sheet. He said ho was pleased to hear the thanks the Superintendent had just voiced to the members. He considered that the mem-

bers had worked particularly well during the year, and he was sure no one could cavil at the work which had been done. With regard to the delay which had occurred at one lire, this had been due to the fact that the driver could not get the motor engine started. However, all tlrrough the Brigade had turned out promptly to

all fires and had done splendid work. They well deserved the thanks they had received from the Superintendent. Senior-Foreman A. Thomson, in seconding the motion, congratulated the members on the satisfactory position disclosed by the report' and balancesheet. He endorsed the- remarks which had fallen from the other officers. The Gisborne Fire brigade held a record for the liberality with which they contributed to the benevolent fund, and this caused their funds to be lower than they otherwise would be. The motion to adopt the report, and balance-sheet was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows Senior foreman, A. Thomson (re-elected) ; junior foreman, J. Kane (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr. J. Townley (re-elected); secretary, Mr. Dugald Ferguson (re-elected). MEN AT THE FRONT. Superintendent Thomson referred to the members who were absent- on active*) service. Tie said Fireman Lloyd; was enjoying good health arid getting plenty of fighting since he arrived at the Dardanelles. Lihe all New Zealanders, he enjoyed fighting, and was fairly revelling in it. Cadet Baker, who was at Trent ham, had also writton to say ho had recovered from the illness which had howled him over for a time. Superintendent Thomson pointed out that all members absent on active service were paid for all musters held by tho brigades during their absence. The men who took their places were unfortunately not members of the brigade, as they were only substitutes for the absentees. They thought- of writing to tho Association suggesting that the Brigade should he allowed to increase its strength to 23 in order that the substitutes might- bo admitted! as members, and thus share in all tho privileges, particularly insurance. Dep-uty-Superintendent Wildish moved to tliis effect-, remarking that- lie feltsure this would -be agreed to at next conference. Senior-foreman A. Thomson seconded the motion, remarking that he felt sure the Fire- Board would agree to the suggestion. 1) ranchman W. Wildish said he did not see any necessity to apply for an increase to 23. They all remembered the difficulty they had when their strength wa-s at 23. They had had difficulty in getting tho number reduced to 20. The motion to increase the strengfo to 23 was carried. The Superintendent said that ho would like to take this opportunity of thanking tho public and the Fire Board for the assistance they had given the Brigade during the year. The Board had been very good in giving the Brigade all they had asked for, and now that they .had given them such a fine new station he did ;not think there would bo much to ask them for. ITe also wished to thank the press for the assistance they.had rendered the- members during the year.