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Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1929, Page 4

Thk friendly invasion of Hokitika hy tlie visiting firemen Inis opened nuspieionsly. Tlie visitors arrived in 'force on Saturday night. and tlie presence of so many uniformed men added greatly to tlie usual Saturday night scene in Novell Street. Yesterday there was a record parade of uniformed men for Hokitika, when the officers and visitors headed hy the .Municipal Hand, marched through the* principal streets to the churches. Tn the afternoon the Executive of the Association together with the visiting ladies, motored to Lake Kanieri under very pleasant conditions. To-day the jubilee conference of the Association opened at the Town Hall. This pleasing opening to the procecv.iinss augurs well for the general success of the fiftieth assemblage of the Association. It is a great honour to the town to have the vistiors here, hut it is a greater honor to note that this is the jubilee meeting of an Association

which has done so much in a practical way to assist in the creation of a system of fire fighting which is all for the public good. The Association as the mouthpiece of the brigadesnicn, and their Tarliament, where,*it their aims and ambitions have been ventilated, must have served a great purpose to bring the standard of excellence of New Zealand Kire Brigades to the point at which it now stands. The community value of the service rendered is outstanding and the Association has been instrumental in shaping that national course. The public must have been si ruck yesterday with the appearance of the fine body of men on paraue. The assemblage was in every way creditable to all concerned, and the on lookers must have felt how great a compliment was being paid to the town by sivli a gathering of representative men from all parts of the Dominion. The loeal committee has heretofore had the general arrangements well prepared, and the visit promises to pass oil with credit to those concerned. There should bo pleasant memories of the visit stored up which will be alike creditable to tli-* community who will lie at pains, we are sure, to make the, stay ot tlie visitors as acceptable mid as menmialile as possible.