FIRE BRIGADE GENERAL MEETING.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 125, 9 July 1864, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE GENERAL MEETING.

A meeting of this body—called together to the alarm of many of the inhabitants by the tolling of the fire-bell—was held on Tuesday night at Bracken's Commercial Hall. For a long period a quorum did not assemble, and it was only just as those who were present were departing that sufficient members attended to make a meeting. Capt Bell occupied the chair. Mr A. Webster was elected hon. secretary, pro tern, in the absence of Mr Croft, who had been subpoenaed to Canterbury. The minutes of last meeting were read, and confirmed. Mr Bracken here entered the room, and said before the minutes were confirmed he should like to make a remark or two. He had been informed that at the last general meeting, upon which the election of officers devolved, they had degraded him from the position of lieutenant to the rank of sergeant. He considered it a deliberate insult. He had also been told that one expression fell from a member named Pritchard, who had proposed him for the lower rank, " That they must give him some position." Now, if he returned to the rank of a private it would be right enough. Mr Carey would call upon the secretary to read the resolution.

Mr Bracken did not care about being an officer; they could elect anyone they liked. To that he had no objection. He would much rather be a private and work as a good subject, and did not care about being an officer, but it was dishonorable the way they had treated him.

MrTyree thought that they could elect officers the same way as the captain had been. Mr Bracken did not object to that, but to being put down to a sergeant. Capt Bell said that they should act altogether, and that he did not want to be captain and had offered to retire.

Mr Bracken said the right man was in the right place. It was well known he had refused to be elected captain at the first meeting, when he might have been returned without opposition. The resolution passed at the previous meeting was then read by the hon secretary. It ran thus:—

" That Lieutenant Bracken be sergeant."

Mr Bracken—That adds insult. It seemed that if, after proposing several persons who declined to act, they elected him at last. Who ever heard of a lieutenant being reduced to the rank of a sergeant ? He believed one of his proposers (Mr Pritchard) said, in proposing him, that they must give him something. He was quite as independent as anyone and more so. To have made him a private again by electing another officer in his room would have been quite right, but at present it was a direct insult to him, and those who proposed the resolution knew it. Mr McLarn said it was an insult, and that if he had been present he should have objected to the resolution. It was very wrong, and he believed Mr Bracken was quite justified in expressing himself as he did. Mr Carey did not think an insult about rank was intended, and he had at first proposed that all the officers should be re-elected, but this had not been carried. There was no intention, he was sure, on the part of those present, to cast any slur upon Mr Bracken. He would admit that an injustice had been done, and that it had been done thoughtlessly. Mr Bracken—They tried three others first for the post of sergeant and then put me in. Mr Townsend—Mr Buxton and others objected to it and proposed a resolution, but it was not accepted. Mr Tyree and others joined in here in a protracted and irregular discussion; the former stating that Mr Bracken should have attended drill oftener than he did, and that the Brigade could elect whom they liked. Mr Bracken would as lief be in the ranks, and better too, but they had no right to degrade him to a sergeant from lieutenant. Capt Bell firmly believed if Mr Bracken had been present he would have been reelected.

Mr McLarn said it was a want of judgment attending their proceedings, but he hoped Mr Bracken would be satisfied with the explanations, and that he would not think worse of the men. (Hear, hear, from Mr Bracken.) It looked like an insult, but it seemed not to hare been intended for one. (Hear, hear.) Mr Bracken said he must decline acting as sergeant, but that at any fire he should always be there and perhaps the first to assist. (hear.) The minutes of last minutes were then read and confirmed with that portion relating to the election of the sergeant. Proposed by Mr Potter, and seconded by Mr HornThat Mr John Jenkins be sergeant. Proposed by Mr Tyree, and seconded by Mr Carey— That Mr William M'Larn be sergeant.

Mr M'Larn offered to retire if the Brigade thought Mr Jenkins was sufficiently acquainted with the duties to be filled at a fire. A vote was then taken, and Mr M'Larn declared duly elected. Mr M'Larn returned thanks, and said he hoped the brigade would work again as smoothly as ever. Proposed by Mr Horn, and seconded by Mr Carey— That Mr Webster be acting secretary until the return of Mr J. T. Crofts. Carried.

A notice of motion regarding an alteration in the rules which had been given by Mr Crofts was taken up, and upon the motion of Messrs Carey and Horn it was resolved — That any person may be proposed and admitted the same evening as a member of the Fire Brigade, subject to the other rules of the association.

It was then proposed by Mr Tyree, and seconded by Mr J. Jenkins—

That Mr Chamberlain be a member of the Brigade. The value of Mr Chamberlain's services were warmly spoken of, and the motion, upon being put to the meeting was carried. Mr Chamberlain returned thanks for the manner in which he had been elected, and the confidence they had shown in him. He hoped no member would, however, under the circumstances, ever propose him to any office, but allow him to do his duty in the ranks. (Cheers.) A long discussion of a warm nature ensued upon the question of calling the meetings together by sounding the fire bell or by advertising. As half a dozen members spoke together, it was impossible to report this part of the proceeding. Mr Townsend said he should move— That each monthly meeting be advertised in the Wakatip Mail.

It was not right to create alarm by tolling the fire bell, and the brigade could not be so poor as not to be able to afford to pay five shillings a month. (Hear.) Mr Potter would second this resolution, as people, whenever they heard the fire bell, rushed out in alarm.

Mr M'Larn thought the bell had better be tolled for ten minutes, and that they should not run into the expense of advertising. Mr Bracken, as an amendment now proposed "That the bell should be rung ten minutes." Why should they advertise in the Wakatip Mail ? He supposed people wanted to see their names in the paper; (oh!) but he would not consent to it by advertising. The paper only misrepresented them, and never did them any good. It was a disgrace to the place. (Laughter, and oh! the speaker having got excited.) Mr Bracken's amendment was taken up as a new one by Mr Horn, who proposed— That the fire-bell should ring for ten minutes on night of general meeting.

He cordially endorsed what had been said about advertising. It was a waste of money, and he did not see it did any good.

Mr M'Larn seconded the amendment.

Mr Carey said it alarmed people ringing the bell, who were not accustomed to it. It would not be allowed in a large town. Women, especially, started up and run out in alarm, not knowing if their own places might not be on fire. This should be prevented. He was always opposed to unnecessarily ringing the bell, and it was much better to bear the nominal expense of advertising than toll it upon such occasions as calling a meeting. (Hear, hear.) After more discussion and recrimination, the amendment was put and lost, and the original motion declared carried. Mr Chamberlain drew attention to the engine question, and it was decided to write to the Town Clerk, Melbourne, to see if the Corporation there had any left. The value of the water tanks kept full between Messrs. Cochrane and Webster's, was brought before the meeting, and after some discussion the following resolution was proposed by Mr Webster, and seconded by Mr Chamberlain —

That the thanks of the Brigade be given to Mr Cochrane for the use of the water tanks placed at the end of his premises in Beachstreet.

Mr Bracken said they could not have any proper discipline without an engine, and the Brigade was fast dying a natural death. He should like to see business men in it, and he did not care to see men in it without a stake. What good could they expect from the Wakatip Mail, which never took any notice of these things. He did not care how soon the Brigade died.

Capt Bell said his reasons for not calling out the Brigade more frequently was the cold weather, and also because the men were well-up in the bucket and hook and ladder drill. One or two other members addressed the meeting and the resolution was unanimously passed.

Capt Bell gave notice of his intention to resign the captaincy of the Brigade at its next general meeting, for reasons he should then give. The roll was then called and the Brigade dissolved.