FIRE BRIGADE DINNER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 206, 28 September 1878, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADE DINNER.

The members of the Eire Brigade mustered in full force at the Engine Room on Thursday evening, and marched to the Masonic Hall, where a sumptuous dinner awaited them. The dinner, to which about fifty sat down, was served up in that style for which Host Tregea is noted and the tables were tastefully decorated with flowers, both artificial and natural. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, supported on either side by the Bishop of Nelson .and Mr Jos. Shephard, tbe vice-chair beiug filled by Mr C. Hunter Erown. After full justice had been done to the gcod things provided the tables were cleared, and the usual loyal toasts were enthusiastically drunk. The Chairman then gave the toast of "His Excellency the Governor and his Responsible Advisers." Whatever part of New Zealand his Excellency bad visited he had made himself popular. He (the Chairman) was sorry he could not speak in favorable terms of the Governor's Responsible Advisers. The Vice-Chairman proposed " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers." Some of the Voluutaers in the North Island had done good service to the country during the Maori war, and if called upon he hoped they would do £0 again. Lieut. Simpson responded. In times gone by it was the custom of Parliamentary orators, not oniy in New Zealand but in England, to decry the Volunteer force, but now they referred to them as " Our auxiliary forces." The Vice-Chairman gave the toast of "The Mayor and City Council." The City Council had done one good thing for the Eire Brigade, and that was in passing a by-law •whereby those persons who allowed their chimneys to take fire were fined. There was nothing more annoying to a fireman than to jump out of bed in the middle of the night at the sound of the firebell, and then find that the cause of alarm was a chimney en fire. The Chairman returned thanks. He had always done his best to forward the interests of the town, and would continue to do so. Mr T. Harley replied on behalf of the City Council. They would shortly introduce measures which would be to the interests of the town. He hoped to see the present Mayor elected again. The Chairman then proposed the toast of the evening, that of "The Eire Brigade." He thought Nelson had reason to be proud of its Eire Brigade It would compare favorably with any other Brigade iu the colony, and certainly was far superior to that of "Wellington. He hoped they would be as liberally supported by the people of Nelson in the future as they had been in the past. Captain Lightfoot returned thanks. He was proud of being in command of such a body of men. Tbe discipline was excellent, and would bear favorable comparison with any othor Brigade in the colony. The Brigade had recently signed a petition to obtain free passes on fhe railway on the occasion of demonstrations. These demonstrations did n. great deal of good, as unless a Brigade was perfect it could not participate in them. He did not think lhat the Insurance Companies should entirely support the Brigade, but that the public should bear a portion of the expense. He would suggest that a fire rate be levied hy the City Council, as he thought that would be the fairest way of meeting the difficulty. Mr 11. Wimsett gave "The Insurance Companies." They had always liberally supported the Brigade, and were willing to render every assistance to it that lay in their power. Mr G. Hodgson replied. Tbe members of the Eire Brigade had won the respect and gratitude of all the Insurance Companies for their efforts in the preservation of life and property. Mr Harley proposed ••' The Town and Trade of Nelson." The present was the time when, if they wished to see their little town prosper, they should pull together to resist the great wrong about to bo imposed upon them by Mr Macandrew. Mr Bullick responded. He thought Nelson was retrograding instead of progressing. Captaiu Lightfoot then gave the toast of "Inspector Kiely and the Nelson Police." The Brigade was indebted to them for their services in keeping back the crowd which usually congregates at a fire. The Vice-Chairman proposed the health of " The Clergy," n volunteer body like themselves, whose object wat to quench eternal fires. The Bishop of Nelson, in returning thanks, said he had had another engagement that evening, but had foregone it so as to be present among them, as he thought that at at every social gathering at the present time advantage should be taken to raise their voices against the great wrong about to be perpetrated upon them by the Government. It was not often that he dabbled in politics, but as they were all aware he had recently addressed a letter to Sir George Grey. Since then he bad received letters from various parts of New Zealand); tbe writers of which expressed the opinion that the course he had taken was perfectly right. After referring at some length to the iniquity of the public •works scheme, his Lordship said it was a great relief to the Clergy to know that if a fire broke out during service in any part of the town their congregations would not be disturbed much, knowing full well that the Brigade would soon be on the spot. The followiug toasts were then duly honored:— "The Richmond and Port Eire Brigades," " Messrs Darby and Parmenter," ** Our Invited Guests," " The Ladies," "The Press," "The Host/ 5 "The Chairman," "The Vice-chairman," " Captain Lightfoot," and "Lieut, Bird." The harmony of the evening was largely Contributed to by Mr A. Oakey, who played several selections on the piano, and the singing of several capital songs by members of the Brigade. The company broke up during " the sma 5 hours," having spent a, pleasant evening.