VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2324, 8 February 1884, Page 2

VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Kumara Volunteer Fire Brigade was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening. All the members were present, except one, viz., Captain Dove, Lieut. Anderson, Foremen M'Ewen and Brayshaw, Deputy-foreman Williams, Treasurer Burger, Secretary Close, Firemen Orams, Valentine, Ziegler, Geraghty, Rudkin, Pearce, Jones, Nichol, Greenwood, Sumsion, and Waters. Fireman Howe was out of town on business. The minutes of the previous monthly practice and special meetings were read and confirmed. The Secretary read a statement of accounts for the year, which showed a credit balance in favour of the Brigade of £l4 4s 3d, The members’ fund account credit balance was £l3 12s. On the motion of Fireman Orams, seconded by Lieut. Anderson, the balance-sheet for the year was received and adopted. Messrs Charles and James Murtha and John Hannah were nominated as members of the Brigade, and investigating committees were appointed for each nomination. Three or four small accounts, amounting in the whole to 325, were passed for payment. Before proceeding to the election of officers, the amount of the Secretary’s stipend was taken into consideration. It was proposed that it be £5 for the ensuing twelve months. Amendment was proposed that the salary be £6 instead of £5. The amendment was lost, and the original motion put and carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The elections of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: Captain, Joseph Dove (re-elected); Lieutenant, Foreman M‘Ewen; Foreman Hook and Ladder Company, Foreman Brayshaw; Foreman Fire Company, Deputy - foreman Williams; Treasurer, Fireman Greenwood; Secretary, William Close (re-elected). Firemen Anderson and Foreman Brayshaw were appointed Trustees for the members’ fund. Foreman Williams appointed Firemen Ziegler and Sumsion as members of the Fire Company. The Secretary was instructed to write a letter of thanks to the Auditors for their past services to the Brigade. It was also resolved that a letter of thanks be sent to the members of the Catholic Brass Band for their services on New Year’s Eve. A vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officers. Receipts to members’ fund were handed in, which, with 10s from honorary member Hannan, amounted to £1 12s. This concluded the business of the annual meeting, and the Brigade, after a short interval, adjourned to Mr Gilbert Stewart’s Hotel to THE SUPPER. It was about half-past ten o’clock before supper commenced. Captain Dove presided, and on his right was his Worship the Mayor (D. Hannan, Esq.), Messrs O’Hagan (an ex-Mayor) and J, Hannah, honorary members, were also present. Lieut. Anderson occupied the vice-chair. An excellent spread was partaken of and heartily enjoyed. Apologies for non-attendance were read from L. Michel, Esq., Captain Hokitika Volunteer Fire Brigade, and Sergeant Russell, who, through aflliction, was unable to move from home. After the sumptuous feast had been well partaken of, Captain Dove called upon the company to fill their glasses for the first toast of the evening—“ The Borough Council of Kumara,” coupled with the name of his Worship the Mayor. The Council had assisted the Brigade very well lately, and with the present Mayor

in office, he believed they might rely on the continued support of the Borough Council.—[Applause.] Song by Mr Nichol. The Mayor thanked Captain Dove and the members of the Brigade on behalf of the members of the Borough Council with all sincerity. The citizens of Kumara ought to be very proud in having so able a body of men in the Brigade. As far as he could assist them, he would pledge his word he would do so,—[Hear, hear.] He thought the ratepayers were backward in giving, but he believed that when giving £SO or £IOO indirectly, they would not say anything at all about it. As an honorary member of the Brigade, he now spoke in a double capacity. He would do what he could for them at all times ; and he hoped they would come to a proper conclusion with regard to a site for the brigade station.— [Applause.] Foreman M‘Ewen proposed—“ Sister Brigades,” coupled with the name of Fireman Grams. Song by Deputy-foreman Pearce. Fireman Grams, in responding to the toast, returned thanks for the kind manner in which they had had drunk health to the Sister Brigades ; in doing so, he would state that there was material in the Kumara Brigade, which could be worked up so as to compare favourable with any brigade in New Zealand.—[Applause.] This struck him to be the case during the late competition amongst their own members; it was a real struggle as to which side should win. He was highly pleased to see his own side accomplish the set task in 55 seconds; but he was doubly pleased in seeing members of his own brigade performing the same task in five seconds less time.—[Great applause.] Mr John Hannah proposed—“ The Kumara Volunteer Fire Brigade,” who, he believed, had the hearty support of the community.—[Hear, hear.] Song : “ For they are jolly good fellows f and, by Mr Hannah, “ For we’re all met together for a wee dropy o’it.” ■ The Mayor proposed—“ The Kumara Volunteer Fire Brigade.” Captain Dove responded, thanking the visitors present for the kind manner in which they had drunk their health. He hoped in a few weeks to have an engine such as would enable them to cope with any fire,—[Applause.] Song; “ Midship mite.” Fireman Valentine proposed “ The Commercial Interests,” coupled with the name of Mr O’Hagan. Song by Fireman Nichol: “ The Tramp of the Fire Brigade.” Mr O’Hagan replied to the toast. He believed the commercial prospects were on a firmer basis now than they had been since Kumara was first started. He had always taken a very active interest in the Fire Brigade. He had become an honorary member and hoped to become a working member.—[Applause.] He had been instrumental in getting £SO passed for the Fire Brigade from the Borough Council. The brigade were a body of men who were combined—many of them to no advantage to themselves—in a common cause for the public good ; and the town was much indebted to the brigade. There, fore it was the bounden duty of the commercial interests to assist the brigade with pounds, shillings and pence. He hoped to impress upon business people the importance of assisting the Fire Brigade when called upon to do so. Song : “ You fancy you’ve tumbled into honey.”

Foreman Valentine proposed—“ Tlie Retiring Officers ;” and, in doing so, hoped the newly-elected ones would do as well as they had done in the past. Song by Mr Hannah: “ The Real Irish Laddie, Tim Flaherty.” Captain Dove, as one of the retiring officers, replied, and, in so doing remarked that Fireman Burger was one of the first, if not the first, to organise the Brigade. Fireman Orams proposed “The newly elected officers.” He hoped and thought that in twelve months hence, the Brigade would be in a state of great efficiency.—[Applause.] Song by Foreman Brayshaw. The toast was responded to by Captain Dove and Secretary Close; the latter also remarked that besides the £l4 4s balance in bank, the members’ fund reached £l3 12s, which reflected well on the financial position of the brigade. Foreman M'Ewen would do his best to carry on with all honor. Foreman Brayshaw said he had worked hard, and would continue to do so as long as he was a member. Deputy - foreman Williams would do the best he could for the ensuing year. Fireman Greenwood thanked the Brigade for the honourable position they had placed him in. He should do his utmost for the Biigaue.

Fireman Geraghty proposed ‘ The Ladies,” coupled with the name of Foreman Brayshaw. Song by Treasurer Burger. Foreman Brayshaw, in replying to the toast, said he must admit that he was least able to respond to it. [Question.] He was perhaps as fond of the ladies as anyone present; and he hoped all who had not a lady now would have one before twelve months jhence.—[Applause.] Captain Love proposed “ The Press, coupled with the name of IMr Janion, who, he believed, had done his best to promote the interests and welfare of the Brigade,”—[Applause.] Mr Janion replied. Song by Fireman Greenwood ; and song by Mr Hannah “ When we were Boys together.” Treasurer Burger proposed —“ Our Host and Hostess which was responded to by Mr Gilbert Stewart. After singing “ Auld iang syne,” and “ God Save the Queen,” the company broke up a very enjoyable and successful annual meeting.