HOKITIKA FIRE BRIGADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1917, Page 3

HOKITIKA FIRE BRIGADE.

Annual Meeting. The nnnunl meeting of the Brigadi was he'd in tbe Town Ha’l rooms lael evening. There >ere present Superintendent Braddon in the chair anc Deputy Sup. D vidson and 16 mem' ben». After the roll bad been called the Superintendent expressed his own and the pleasure of members at the recovery from his illness of Deputy Supt Davidson, remarka that met with hearty applause. The Deputy briefly expressed his appreciation of the kind welcome. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and outward correspondence approved. A letter was read from the Borough Council, stating request for attention to fire plugs had been referred to the Pablio Works Committee for immediate attention.—Received. The Treasurer read the balance sheet for tha year wL’ch cJnwed the fund to La m n strong position, the receipts for the year amounting to £57 3/6 and expenditure £SO 18/6, leaving a credit balance of £l6 3/, while the members tobacco fund for firemen a* the front also showed a credit balance of £6 5/6. —Received and adopted. Consideration of the report of the delegate (Engineer Mclntosh) oa the annual conference, was adjourned to next quarterly meeting. , Officers in charge of the various gear reported that generally it was in satisfactory order, with no requirements.

superintendent’s report. 1 have tho honor to report that during the past year practices have bean well attended and keen interest token in Brigade work generally. I have pleaiure in recording that the cumber of fire calls during the laßt twelvemonths has been well below tbe average, only two. This reflects credit on tbe inhabitants of Hokitika for tbe great oare they must have taken to obtain this result. I w It take this opportunity of congratulating you on your good work in extinguishing the two fires. Both looked ugly at first, but the rapid and intelligent work of the Brigade was successful in confining the outbreaks to the buildings in whioh they originated with, in one case, smalt loss. A gratifying feature of these fires was the receipt by our Secretary of letters of appreciation from tbs citizens mostly concerned acknowledging in kindly terms the value they place on your services. Wa are indebted to the Borough Council for their endeavor to keep the fire pings conspicuous, & matter of vital importance, especially at night, if the best results are to be obtained from a well-traiued Brigade and a splendid water pressure. Owing to tbe war it is very hard to get good ho'te in the Dominion and it has become tieceasary to ledace the wear and tear of our hose lo the minimum, and this result can only be obtained by refraining from prscticea which require much ho-e, and by again using for practice purno-eo onr old and condemned ho-s. I know that it is cot pleasant to use this uld and leaky hose, but in times like these I am sure you will all cheerful 1 y do your bit.-

For of news sea fourth pag 4 ' MONT ]}’OR GOLD MINING COY., (in Liquidation). SALE BY PUBLIO AUCTION. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23bd At 11.30 a.m. Sharp.

I desire to thank our Fire Btard and its Chairman, Mr Michel, for the willing manner in which it looks after our welfare, and also to thank the Boards Secretary, Mr Andrews*, for the oourtesy shown to yonr Officers,

Since our lasi annaal meeting, Firemen John Roes and John Catbnub came back from oacup on fioa; leave, •ad are now in France. Lately ex* Fireman Joseph Gronff.ky came baok on final leave, and is now probably en route to the fame place, You will all Barely join with me i l wie>hit<g them oontinued good fortune and a safe return.

The sad duty falls on me of placing on record, the passing at the Battle of the Somme, in France, of an old and well loved comrade, ex-Fireman and Corporal Robert MoMillan. To show the manner in which he died, I will read an extract from-a letter, written by Private Williams, of Park Street, to his father, Mr H. Williams:— “You will have heard of Bob McMillan’s death. From the first Bob bore ‘be pain of hie wounds with all the patience of a mariyr, and wns considered by all who came in contact with him, to be the gamest man that bad entered the hospital ; his fortitude waa remarkably no one was regretted more than be for he was lo ! sd by them.” That was the way Bob died, gentlemen, and we must adjudge him worthy to stand in line with cur gallant old Aczso comrades. Fireman William Wall&oe who fought, and Firemen Patriok Bretzj, James O’Connor and George Willetts, who fought and fell on Gallipoli. Let ns rise now boys and stand in silsnce as a mark of re»peot and a tribute to these brave men of our*. I desire to thank auxiliary members —A, BanjamiD, A. A. Andrewee, Len Robb, and ex-Superintandent F. Thompson, for their valued assistance during the absence of some of our members at the front ; ako the Turncock, Mr Maunder, for bin oarefal conservation of the water supply during the late dry summer. I also desire to thank Deputy-Supt Davidson and yourselves for the hearty support you have given me in carrying out our duties and assure you that 1 appreciate it greatly, and in conclusion I wish you all asnooess* ful and brighter coming year.—Received,

Foreman McGregor returned thanks for the references in the report to the Fire Board, of which he was a member. The report was adopted. long service. Medals and bars for loag service were presented by the Superintendent as follows: — (

Fireman Oallan-—Silver medal for 5 years’ service. Fireman 0. B. Ross-—Silver bar for odditional 2 years’ service. Firemau K- Wallace—l bar for 2 years’ service. Fireman H. Sweney—2 bars for 4 years’ service. Fireman F, Groufsky—l bar for 2 years’ service, Seoretary J. G, Lakin—l bar for 2 years’ service. ELECTION @F OFFICERS. Superintendent Braddon and Deputy Supt. Davidson were unanimously recommended for ra-appoint-menf. Fireman J. G. Lakin was ra-eleoted Seoretary and Treasurer. The officers returned thanks for their re-election. The question of altering the night of the fortnightly praotioe was brought forward by Fireman Wilson, aad after a short discussion was deferred for

further consideration to the next quarterly meeting. The roll was then called and the meeting terminated.