FIRE BRIGADE DINNER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 230, 28 September 1877, Page 2

FIRE BRIG ADE DINNER.

Last evening the annual dinner of the Fire Brigade took place iu the Trafalgar Hotel. The members of the Brigade mustered at their rooms at 7.30 and marched through the town to the hotel, where a capital spread awaited them. The room was well filled, over forty being present. The dinner was got up in Host Diaher's best style, everything being comme ilfaut. His Worship the Mayor occupied the Chair, supported by the Bishop of Nelson and Captain Lightfoot; J. JR. Dodson, Esq., filled the vice-chair. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts The Chairman gave the toast of " His Excellency the Governor." He (the Chairman) hoped that the advice given him by Ministers would be for the benefit of the colony. The Chairman then gave the "Army Navy, and Volunteers." Everyone knew that there were several gallant men who had in the army aud navy distinguished themselves, some of whoqa were alive at the present time. With regard to the volunteers he would specially mentiou Major Heaphy, who had won the Victoria Cross, and Sergeant Maling, who had earned for himself the New Zealand Cross. Both these men were well known in Nelson, the latter having been born here. Later on he would mention the services rendered by the Naval Brigade, who, as soon as they heard that there were women and children missing from the O^ueen Bee, manned their little boat, the Aurora, and proceeded out in search of them. When the glad news was telegraphed to Nelson that they were saved, everyone was overcome with joy. He hoped the Nelson volunteers would never be called upon to stand up in defence of their country, but if they should be they would not be behind hand in doing their duty. Song—" The Red, White, and Blue."— Mr Kitching. Lieut. Hodgson, of the City Rifles, returned thanks on behalf of the Volunteers. He was not going to gush about what the Volunteers would do if they were called upon. A great deal had been said about the inutility of volunteering, but if it had done no real service it had taught several men the use of firearms— that in itself no mean thing— while it had also made smart men of slovens Song -"Lottie Lane."-Mr H. Wimsett. Ihe Vice-Chairman proposed the health of " His Lordship the Bishop, and the Cler«*y of Nelson." The toast was one that did not require auy introductory, remarks as they were held iu great respect by the people of Nelson. Song — « Come dwell with me " —Mr Batchelor. His Lordship heartily thanked the company present for the kind manner in which they had drunk the heath of himself and the clergy. It wa3 a great pleasure to him to be among such a body of men at their annual festivity, indeed, he considered it to be the bounden duty of one of their number at least to be present on such an occasion. Tl*e Eire Brigade had the sympathy of the clergy in the great work tbey were engaged in. When a fire broke out the Brigade did not ask the question " Where is it 1" or " Whose j place is it? " but at once rushed off to the i scene of action. The Brigade was an institu- j tion that had grown up in our midst, and | one that all ought to be proud of. The clergy had to extinguish fire, but not of the same kind as that which the Brigade was called upon to do ; they (the clergy) had to extinguish the fires of evil, intemperance, and vice, which, in the present time, fouud so many listeners, and so as brothers tied together by the same bond it was gratifying

to receive the appreciation of tho Brieade. He would once more thank them for" the manner in which they had drunk the toast Song — « The Unfortunate Man." — Mr Leech. | The Vice-Chairmau then gave the toast' of ** The Mayor and City Council." The Council was composed of a body of men who, he thought, would give every satisfaction during their term of office. During the present year thero would be several objects of importance brought under their notice, oue of these being the taking over of the i gas and water works. Soug— " The Queen ancl her Navy."— Mr Trueman. His Worship the Mayor returned thanks on behalf of himself and the City Council : While in the Council he had doue his best to serve the ratepayers, and anything for the advancement of the town received his earnest consideration. He mentioned the work that I had been done by the Council during the past year, and hoped that more would be performed iu the course of the present one. The Council would shortly be called upon to discuss a drainage and sewage scheme, and he had no doubt that the scheme which would be most beneficial to the town would be duly considered. Song—" Wait for the turn of the tide."— Mr T. Wimsett. The Chairman proposed the health of the " Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade." It was satisfactory to know that we had in Nelson a Brigade which was second to none iu the colony. They were always ready at any moment to do battle with their enemy. Song—" The True born Englishman.— Mr Cooksey. Captain Lightfoot thanked the company for the manner in which they had drunk the health of the Brigade. Prom the position he occupied in the Brigade he had often been called upon to perform a similar duty, therefore it was difficult to find somethiug fresh to say. He would, however, mention that the Brigade was never in a more efficient state than it was now. As for the men themselves, it was a pleasure to have command of such a body. The Brigade had about £100 worth of hose coming out from England, which, when it arrived, would bring the value of the plant belonging to the Brigade to about £1200. There were uow hose stations in every part of the town with the exception of Toi/Toi aud Washington Valleys, and as soon as members were procured from, those places stations would be placed there too. Mr Stnallbone gave the toast of " The Insurance Companies of New Zealand." The sum of £100 had been promised by them to the Brigade, providing that the latter raised a similar sum among the public. By the exertions of Messrs Darby and Parmenter that sum had been raised. Song— •• A Thousand a Year."— Mr Darby. Mr Curtis briefly returned thanks on behalf of the lusurance offices. He paid a great compliment to the Brigade, and stated that the Insurance Companies were highly satisfied with the manner in which the Brigade performed its work. Mr Curtis regretted that the Town and Port Brigades were not amalgamated, as he thought they would work better together as one than as two Brigades. He hoped the obstacles in the way would soon be removed, and ere long they would be united Song—" The Barrel of Pork."— Mr Little. Captain Lightfoot then gave the health of "Mr William Thomson." That gentleman had been connected with the Brigade for eleven years, and had only left ou account of a recent domestic bereavement. The members of the brigade were determined that his services should noi be allowed to pass unnoticed, and had subscribed among themselves a sum sufficient to purchase a gold locket and chain, which he had much pleasure in handing to Mr Thomson. Mr Thomson briefly returned thanks. He was so suffused with joy that he could not find adequate terms in whioh to express himself. I{e would always look hack with pleasing recollections to the many happy days ho spent among the members of the Fire Brigade. , Song— "Ring; the Bell Watchman."— MiEdwards. Mr 11. Wimsett proposed the health of "The Guests," tq which Mr Darby responded. Song—" Mixed Pickles."— Mr Hall. Mr Hodgson gave the toast of " The Towu and Trade of Nelson." He hoped that in course of time trade would be much brisker than it was at present. The term " Sleepy Hollow " had often been applied to Nelsou, but had we not recently exemplified that we were not so sleepy as we were said to be? He referred to the Queen Bee disaster. Mr Little had much pleasure in responding. He was not without hope that brighter days were in store for Nelson. Mr Cooksey, in a few eulogistic romarks, proposed « The Press," to which Mr Shcphard replied. j Dr. Kesteven then gave the toast of " Tho Ladies " in felicitous terms. Mr Kitching, as the youngest man in the room, briefly replied. The following toasts wore then proposed and duly honored :— " The Police," proposed by Mr H. Wimsett, and responded to by Inspector Kiely ; «' The Chairman and ViceChairman," proposed by Mr Edwards, and replied to by Mr Dodson ; " Captain Lightfoot," proposed by Mr Darby ; " The Host and Hostess," proposed by Mr Trueman, and responded to by Mr Cooksey. During the evening soveral capital songs were sung, and the company separated shortly after midnight by singing " Auld Lang Syne," and the National Anthem.