FIRE POLICE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 596, 17 May 1876, Page 3

FIRE POLICE.

The general quarterly meeting of the Fire Police was held last evening, at the Lichfield street Station, Mr E.E. Alport presiding. There was a good attendance. The minutes of the former meeting and a record of fires attended was read by Captain Mitchell. Captain Mitchell said that Superintendent Harris had invited the members of the Fire Police to attend on the 24th instant to assist in laying the foundation stone of the new Fire Brigade station, to meet at the Lichfield street Fire Station. On the 23rd Mr Superintendent Harris had also invited the force to join the Fire Brigade in a march out under Captain Craig. As he was about to leave on June Ist for England and America, he would have to ask the force to accept his resignation as captain and a member of the force. He would suggest that as their usual meeting would take place in (August, Mr Alport should act in the interim as officer in charge, which would do away with the necessity for electing an officer until “August, which would also meet the views of the Fire Brigade committee. He expected to be absent some seven months, and hoped on his return to meet them all again. The chairman said if it were possible to ■ elect Mr Mitchell at the August meeting he knew that it would meet' the wishes of the members, Mr Mitchell said that it would not be fair to the members to elect him, as seven months out of the year would he a long period to be without the presence of an officer. The chairman said that there was a feeling amongst the members that they would like to take leave of Mr Mitchell on an evening prior to his leaving the province, and it would be for Mr Mitchell to say now what evening would suit him. * Officer Bishop suggested that the evening of the 23rd, after the march out would be the most convenient time.

Mr Bandstein moved Mitchell be requested to meet the members of the force on the evening of the 23rd, in order to take leave of him.” Considerable discussion ensued on this. Mr Wood moved as an amendment —‘‘That the fixing of the time and place be left to the officers to arrange.” Mr King seconded the original proposition. Mr Wood ultimately withdrew his first amendment, and moved as another—“ That Captain Mitchell be requested to meet the members on Thursday evening, the 25th.” Mr Tombs seconded this amendment, •which was carried. It was resolved that the time and place should be advertised in the newspapers.

Officer Bishop said that he thought, as Captain Mitchell was now leaving them, they should record on their minutes a hearty vote of thanks for his services. They would have an opportunity of meeting Captain Mitchell on another occasion in a friendly manner, so that now he need only move—- “ That a cordial vote of thanks be given to Captain Mitchell, and that the same be recorded on their minutes.” [Cheers.] He might also express his opinion that it would not be well until the August meeting to elect another officer. Mr Bandstein seconded the motion, which was carried amid acclamation. Captain Mitchell said he knew they would believe him when he said that he felt leaving them very much. He would reserve any lengthened remarks he might have to make till the occasion when they would meet to «ay good-bye for a time to each other. He would now only say that the establishment of the force had proved what he felt at the time that it would be of great service to the public, and he thought this was amply proved by the fact that since their establishment not a single case of theft at a fire had been brought before the Bench. He thanked them very heartily for their kind expression of feeling. [Cheers] The chairman said that any members who had not received badges or caps could do so on applying at his office. The meeting clcsed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.