ELTHAM FIRE BRIGADE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 July 1924, Page 10

ELTHAM FIRE BRIGADE.

ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Eltham Fire Brigade held its annual meeting- in the fire station last night. There was a full attendance of members of the brigade and a number of borough councillors and the public. Superintendent Nuttall presided and presented the balance-sheet. Secretary Libeau read the following report: In bringing before you the twenty-second annual report of the brigade we have to congratulate the members on the active interest they have taken in brigade matters generally. Last year’s balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £'6 3s 7d; this has been increased to £23 10s Id, an increase of £l7 6s 6d. From a fire point of view the year has been very light. We have had seven calls only, two serious, that of Mr. Kay and Mr. H. Nodder’s Mount View boardinghouse. Although Mr. Kay’s was partly gutted, it was a good save considering that we got a late call and the faulty nature of the building. This building was about forty 'years old and beyond repairing. Mount View boarding-house was also partly gutted to the extent of several rooms upstairs. A fair amount of damage was done by smoke and water. Considering the heavy gale that was blowing at the time, the brigade was fortunate in making such a good save. The attendance of members at meetings and practices has been exceedingly good. Out of 34 musters there was an average attendance of 30 for the year. Deputy-Superin-tendent Murray and Fireman Gyde have the best attendance for the year, with 33 musters out of 34, an excellent record. The usual local competition was held and keenly contested. Fireman W. Hart again annexed the championship cup and gold medal this year,-making the second year in succession he has won this event. Fireman Page won the Fake Cup and gold medal; Fireman Len Nees won tlVe Cresswell Cup and gold medal. The challenge shield between Eltham and Stratford was forfeited to Stratford, owing to no interest being taken by brigade members. It was very disappointing to the officers of the brigade to find this shield going by default. We have been competing for this shield for the last ten years, and of late years it was the means of creating friendly rivalry between the two brigades, and some very pleasant afternoons have been spent together. As this is the last year of the brigade as a volunteer body, the officers and members desire to thank the Borough Council and the public of Eltham for the very generous support accorded them during their 22 years as a volunteer brigade.

Mr. I. J. Bridger voiced appreciation of the work of the brigade since its inception some 22 years ago, and referred to the length of seryice of Superintendent Nuttall, who had 22 years’ service, and his deputy, Lieut. Murray with 21 years, and Fireman Burrows with 19 years. The brigade would be striking out on a new era, as a fire board had been formed and would in a few days be assuming its duties. Captain Nuttall then moved that the report and balance-sheet be adopted, and it was carried without further discussion. He then presented Fireman Hornblow with a- two years’ service bar, making a total service of nine years. Fireman Page was presented with the Fake Cup for results obtained in competition work. The superintendent referred appreciatively to the work of these two men in the "brigade. In asking the Mayor (Mr G. W. Tayler) to take the chair tor the election of officers, the superintendent referred to the cordial relations between the council and the brigade. The council had always - treated the brigade with every consideration. The Eltham Borough Council had always been looked upon as an example by the fire officials in New Zealand. He* referred also to the great record of war service that the brigade held. Some 36 men had answered the call for war service, which constituted a record for New'Zealand.

The Mayor, on taking the chair, thanked the brigade for their expressions of goodwill and appreciation, and assured them that the council had always endeavoured to provide sufficient and efficient fire fighting apparatus, and said that he was satisfied that under the fire board the same conditions would prevail. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: Superintendent, Captain Nuttall; deputy superintendent, Lieut. Murray; secretary, Fireman C. Libeau- treasurer, Captain Nuttall: first foreman, Fireman E. Henn; second foreman, Fireman T. Glentworth; auditor, Mr Harold Northover; standing committee, Firemen Burrows and Gyde. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £5 os for his services.

On the motion of Firemen Libeau and Burrows, it was decided to recommend Superintendent Nuttall to the fire board as the first superintendent under the board svstem.

Mr G. Peebles offered a gold medal for competition during the coming year. The meeting then adjourned to the Foresters’ Hall, where a smoke concert was held, at which the Mayor presided. After partaking of refreshments and the honouring of the loyal toast the Mayor proposed the toast of the Eltham Fire Brigade, and in doing so referred to the difficulties under which the brigade bad worked, especially up to the time that the Borough Council assumed financial control. The brigade had always been a credit to the town, and rendered much valuable service. He referred to tfie water pressure and the report of the superintendent, and after the thorough inspection of the water pressure by the council he was satisfied that Superintendent Nuttali’s report was correct. Captain Nuttall and Lieut. Murray replied on behalf of the brigade, and recalled many amusing incidents during the past 20 years, both expressing the pleasure they had revived in their work. The men'were also keen to maintain efficiency in their work. Captain Nuttall referred to the formation of the brigade some 22 years ago, when the members had to sit on the floor when conducting meetings because there were no funds with which to huv chairs, etc. The conditions were better now, and would continue to imnrove under the fire board.

The next toast was that of the “Borough Council.” proposed by Fireman C. Libeau, who also referred to the great financial assistance rendered the brigade by tlie Borough CouncilThe Mayor and Crs Thomas. King and Bridger responded on behalf of the Council.

"1 aranaki Fire Brigades’ Association” wa s then proposed by Fireman Burrows. He stressed the usefulness of the association, and said that it had liceu in existence some nine years, and bad done a great, deal to engender life and interest in competition work throughout the province. Captain Nuttall responded to the toast on behalf of the association.

The Town Clerk (Mr W. Waters) was failed upon to propose the toast of the newly-formed Fire Board, mid he outlined the duties and powers of the board, and said that he was satisfied

that the board would prove very beneficial. to the brigade and to the town. Mr. T. Stanners, the Government nominee, replied on behalf of the board menibe».\s present, and said that lie was of the opinion that the board was a step in the right direction. The next toast was that of “The Ex-Firemen,” and was proposed by Mr Ira Bridger, who said that the town owed a great debt to the men who had formed the Fire Brigade during the past 22 years. The spirit of service was the greatest spirit in the world to-day, although the public did not seem to value it as much as they should. The same sense of duty prompted the men to serving in fire brigades and actuated the men who- served their King and country during the Great '^ ar - They honoured the 35 members of the Eltham Fire Brigade who answered the call for Empire service, 11 of whom had paid the supreme sacrifice. Ex-Fireman Beesly replied on behalf of the ex-firemen present at the gathering. “The Press” was proposed by Mr J W. Stubbs. ■ During the evening songs were rendered by Messrs Beesly, Sait, Burrows, and Des Forges. A vote of thanks to the chair and the National Anthem terminated the gathering.