ASHBURTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1857, 5 February 1880, Page 3

ASHBURTON FIRE BRIGADE.

The annual meeting was held at the Borough Council offices on Tuesday night, Captain Compton in the chair. The following officers were elected: — Captain, Mr Jas. Wilkie; lieutenant, Mr J. 0. Dolman ; foreman, Mr Bradley ; treasurer, Mr George Parkin; hon. sec., Mr Adams; standing committee, Messrs G. Miller, W. Patching, T. Dudson, F. A. Sergeant. The following annual report was read :—“ Ashburton, 3rd February, 1880. To the members of the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade. Gentlemen, —It is my pleasant duty on this the sixth anniversary of the Brigade to congratulate you upon the great progress that has been made during the past year, and the great improvement made in the means of controlling and extinguishing fires in this town. During the above period, as you are aware, several wells have been sunk, all (with one exception) being successful in the highest degree. We have been granted the use of a section in a central position, to which the engine house has been removed, and upon which a new bell, obtained at considerable expense, has been erected. The old bell has been re-erected upon its former site, so that we have a fire-alarm at each end of the town. We have bad two alarms of fire since our last annual meeting, one being on the occasion of a serious fire in Tancred street, and I have to congratulate you upon the successful efforts made to avert the further spreading of the fire. The auditors’ report will be laid before you, when it will be found that we have a fair margin to show on the right side of the account. The depressing time through which wo have been passing has prevented the Borough Council from doing as much as they would wish towards improving the position of the Brigade, but I hope that before another year elapses we shall be in possession of a proper uniform, a matter of very great importance. I would call the attention of members to the great necessity of regular attendance at practice, as it much enhances our usefulness. — Q. Compton.” The report was adopted, and the accounts duly audited, were passed. A sumptuous dinner was subsequently provided by Mr Shearman.