CHRISTCHURCH FIRE POLICE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1009, 19 September 1877, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH FIRE POLICE.

The adjourned annual general meeting of this corps was held last evening at the Lichfield street station. There was a full attendance, Captain Alport in the chair. Mr W. Harris, superintendent of the Are brigade, was also present. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed.

Tim reports of fires which had taken place during the previous year, with attendance of members thereat, were read and approved. In the report submitted by the chairman, he stated that since the last annual meeting Christchurch had been remarkably exempt from fires, only four having occurred which were considered of sufficient consequence to record. In accordance with the wishes of members quarterly meetings had been held. It was matter for consideration whether it would not be desirable to assemble members at moderately brief intervals. The question of the position of the Christchurch volunteer lire police company had been amply discussed at the last meeting, and a committee appointed to consider and report upon the best mode of placing the corps on a recognised basis. The committee had not brought up any report, but a representation had been made to the City Council to have a clause inserted in the Municipal Councils Amendment Act passing

to have the fire police distinctly recognised by name, and have their powers and duties defined in a formal manner. lie was unable to report that this had been accomplished. Having always considered that he held the office of captain with a view of acting until Mr Mitchell’s return from Europe, he now wished to tender his resignation as captain, and trusted that gentleman would be reelected to that honorable position. The statement of accounts which was read showed a credit balance of £B.

The report was received and adopted. The election of officers then took place. The Chairman, in a few eulogistic remarks, proposed that Mr W. R. Mitchell be elected captain of the corps. [Applause.] Mr R. C. Bishop seconded the proposal, endorsing the remarks which had fallen from the chairman.

Oil being put the motion was unanimously carried amid applause. Captain Mitchell, who took the chair vacated by Mr Alport, in returning thanks for the confidence in him said that on going through the new Municipal Act with Mr Hobbs on his return from Wellington they had found that acts done by members at fires, under instructions from their officers, would be legalised, and that they would have full powers as if they belonged to the regular constabulary. The other officers elected on the ballot were Messrs H. E. Alport, R. C. Bishop, G-. Beatty, and W. J. Fisher,

The Chairman read a letter from the Christchurch City Council of date August 3rd, thanking the fire police for services rendered to the city during last year. On the motion of Mr F. J. Smith, seconded by Mr Superintendent Harris, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Alport for his attention to his duties while holding the position of captain. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Mr Superintendent Harris for his attendance that evening, and for the use of the hall. Mr Harris, in replying, concurred in the captain’s remarks as to the status of the corps under the hew Municipal Act. A fire police company had been organised at Wellington and Auckland, and it was intended to form one in a few days at Dunedin. The roll of members having been gone through, the captain said he would strike out the names of those who were absent from the colony before this year’s list was printed. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.