ASHBURTON FIRE POLICE AND SALVAGE CORPS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1799, 26 November 1879, Page 3

ASHBURTON FIRE POLICE AND SALVAGE CORPS.

The agents of the various insurance companies interested in Ashburton met at Messrs Edmiston Bros, and Gundry’s stores yesterday morning, to consider the best means of organising a corps to protect salvage goods at fires. The South British, Standard, Colonial, New Zealand, National, Liverpool, London and Globe, Victoria, London and Lancashire, Imperial, and Norwich Union wore represented. The Mayor (Mr Thomas Bullock) presided. Mr Gundry said a well organised body of Fire Police were much required in the town. At the last fire a great deal of valuable property had been wasted by the rough removal of stock, and by its not being looked after when in the street, the crowd actually walking over it. A combined Salvage Corps and Fire Police were what was needed. Mr C. Braddell moved —“ That taking into consideration the fact that the sum of £158.3 c 9 is held at risk by the various insurance offices doing business in Ashburton for the year ending March 31st, 18S0, and that at present no adequate provision exists for taking charge of goods, &c., saved at fires, it is expedient that the agents of the several companies and other persons in Ashburton form themselves into a Fire Police and Salvage Corps.” Mr Rudolph Friedlander seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously, and ten of those present were sworn in by the Mayor. On the motion of Mr Boyle, seconded by Mr Zouch, the following members of the corps were elected: Messrs W. H. Gundry, J. E, Hodder, W. R. Boyle, John Orr, S. Saundere, R. Priedlander, O, Braddell, W. H. Zouch, J. B. Bruce, A. Harrison, Geo. Jameson, O. P. Cox, A. Curtis, H. Stephenson, A. H. Shury, G. St. Hill, and W. Wake. It was resolved that all others desirous of joining should be requested to send in their names to Mr Zouch, the hon. secretary, at once. The election of officers then took place, with the following result : Captain, Mr George Jameson ; committee, Messrs J. Orr, Gundry, S. Saunders, and Priedlander ; secretary, Mr W. H. Zouch. The rules of the Christchurch Fire Police were adopted, and it was decided that the hon. secretary should procure an estimate of the cost of a suitable hat, with distinguishing badge, for the use of members of the corps.