OPENING OF THE CENTRAL FIRE BRIGADE'S NEW PREMISES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4840, 26 September 1876, Page 2

OPENING OF THE CENTRAL FIRE BRIGADE'S NEW PREMISES.

Last evening the Central Fire Brigade celebrated their entry into their new premises in Brandon-street, consisting of meeting room,, engine house, stables, &c. The premises secured by the brigade are those until recently occupied as the Wellington Gymnasium, and a more commodious, comfortable, and handy place could scarcely have been obtained. At considerable expense, as will be observed from the reported remarks of Captain Moss, the room has been fitted up in excellent style, and it reflects the highest credit upon the brigade that by its perseverance and energyit has obtained such comfortable quarters. Last evening everything was very gay. The engine house was draped with flags and ornamented with flowers, and the engines, break, hosereel, and the smaller articles of plant, all burnished and polished, added greatly to the effect, and moreover showed that a high degree of discipline has been attained to, and that the members of the brigade take a. pride in smartness and neatness. The room in which the dinner was held—the ordinary meeting room—also bore a very festive appearance. Over the chair was hung the splendid banner presented to the brigade by Miss Alice May, and around ort every side were flags of all nations and pictures of historical incidents connected with th. 3: fire brigades of old England. The dinner, or banqupt, more properly speaking, prepared by Mr. Kalph Levoi, of the City Cafe, was excellent—indeed the spread ha 3 never been surpassed in Wellington. Over sixty dishes were placed upon the table in eight courses, and the wines were capital. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, supported on his right by Mr. L. Moss, Captain of the Brigade, Mr. Dobson, agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company, and Mr. Whiteford, Captain of the Wellington Brigade; and on his left by Mr_ Krull, Dr. Johnston, Mr. J. E. George, andMr. W. H. Clayton. Letters of apology were read from Sir Julius Vogel (who regretted his health during the day had been so bad hecould not be present, although he should havehad pleasure in being present, and wishing, success to the brigade in the future). Messrs.. B. W. Mills, Wm. Black, B. Smith (whoenclosed a cheque for £5 as mark of sympathy with the brigade), C. E. Capper, Wm. Levin, G. Hunter, M.H.R,, (who explained he was obliged to be present in the House), and Dr. Bradford.

Dinner over, the toasting commenced, the chairman first giving the usual loyal toast?. In proposing " The Health of his Excellency the Governor," jhis Worship said his Excellency had by his quiet unobtrusive but businesslike and genial habits become the popular Governor New Zealand had ever had, and well deserved the esteem in which- he was. held by all classes. All the toasts were received with great enthusiasm.

The Chaiemak then proposed "Prosperity to the Central Fire Brigade," coupling with the toast the name of Captain Moss. He passed a high eulogium upon the services of the brigade, and said it did not derogate from those services that they should be seldom required owing to the careful habits of the people of the city. When the brigade was required it was ever to the front—like the old Roman, warrior, it might appropriately claim for its motto, "Ready! always ready!" and thecitizens could not be too grateful to it for its • unbought, unpaid-for services. The Chairman; then referred to the matter of water supply, a& being intimately connected with the protection of the property of the citizens from fire. He quoted the opinions of Mr. Macdonald, Mayor of the Thames, who after viewing a special practice by the members of the Central Brigade had expressed gratification at their expertness and surprise at the enormous pressure of water which could be brought to bear when required. But although this supply was large, it was not large enough, and why the supply had not been increased he might be pardoned for explaining. Some people thought the City Council were to blame, but they were wrong ; the City Council was not to blame. The people had long been ready to bear the expense, and the Council had as long been desirous of borr6wijg ; but the authority of the Legislature was necessary before that" could be done. The Legislature for three or four months had talked a great deal about a great many things, and had done nothing—certainly it had not yet had time to turn itself to such trifliug matters as securing the health and cleanliness of the people of the cities, and aiding in providing means by which their property might be preserved. However, there were hopes that the necessary authority would soon be obtained, and the works would at once be commenced, though owing to the. unnecessary three months delay the increased supply would not be ready for next summer. For this the Legislature, and not the Council, must be blamed. (Cheers.)

Captain Moss was received with loud cheering. He commenced by regretting the absence of the insurance agents, who had been invited, but who had been so ready to send excuses; and said if he spoke strongly he must be forgiven, as he felt strongly. It was certain that had the insurance agents been present they would have learned more about the strength of the brigade, the completeness of its plant, and its general efficiency, than they could otherwise ever learn ; and he considered that one of the oldest agents, Mr. Hunter, might have done better had he come to the banquet than* gone to the House of Representatives. A brigade looked for financial assistance; but a better incentive to usefulness and efficiency was that moral encouragementinsuranceagents were capable of giving by their presence at the convivial meetings of the members. Mr. Moss then went on to relate the history of how the brigade acquired the building—how it had originally been in charge of the Gymnastic Club, which body fell into difficulties, and agreed to hand it over to the brigade, the owners of the fee simple, the City Corporation, being willing how the City Corporation had been willing that the brigade should hold it upon the same terms, viz., that the building should be vested in the brigade while it was used for fire brigade purposes, and that in the event of the brigade ceasing to exist the property should revert to the Council, due allowance being made for improvements. He then stated that the first cost —that was the liabilities taken over from the Gymnastic Club with the build--

j nK —was £330. Siuce then alterations and extensions had been made by the brigade, the contract being far £430/ to which was to be added £SO contingencies, making in all £BIO as the cost to the brigade. Now he wanted to Bay something about the conduct of the insurance agents. There were some fifteen of these gentlemen in town. He had met them and explained all the circumstances to them, and they had agreed to subscribe £2OO. He thought this amount exceedingly paltry. The brigade had not wanted the money for their own personal benefit—they had wanted it for the purpose of promoting the public weal and furthering the interests of the citizens generally, and yet all they could get was £250, and even that with the condition that the City ' Council should contribute a like sum. He had, with the assistance of the Mayor, been successful in getting £l5O from the City Council ; but he would say this, he considered the City Council as a body had done its. duty, but the insurance agents had failed to recognise their legitimate responsibilities. They received the full benefit of the services of the brigade; and though they might say, perhaps with some deTee of justice.they should not be called upon to entirely support a brigade which protected the property not only of the insured but of the uninsured ; but he would say this the insurance agents quite forgot the fact that their companies received the full benefit of the magnificent water supply afforded by the Corporation, although they had not paid one iota extra towards defraying the cost of the service. If the Council gave £l5O, the insurance agents should have considered themselves none too liberal if they had given £SOO or £750. Perhaps gentlemen were not quite aware of what had been done by insurance agents. If not he might tell "them. There was a clause originally in the Municipal Corporations Bill empowering the Corporation to levy an average charge on the insurance companies, amounting perhaps to £3OO per annum. But what did those agents do ? Actually got a private Bill passed through the House of Representatives doing away with this clause entirely, and clearing themselves from paying one iota to the Corporation for the benefit derived from the waterworks. He had said the City Council had promised £l5O —he would add they had paid it ; he had said the insurance agents had promised £2so—he would add they had not paid it, —(hear, hear), —and what was more shocking evinced a desire to get out of paying it. He believed they were now in correspondence with the Mayor with a view to some arrangement to be made with the City Council ; and he hoped some arrangement would be come to. The brigade did not care how much they were bound ; they would execute any trust to prevent the money being dissipated in a way contrary to the objects of the association; but when they desired to erect more comfortable quarters upon no source had they better claims than they had upon the insurance agents. To show they were thoroughly in earnest he mentioned that the men had authorised a loan of £l5O from the sick funds in order to get the building, which money would soon be returned, and assistance had also been obtained from those citizens who, on the occasion of the Empire fire r had made such liberal donations. He might remark enpassant that though the citizens had come forward so liberally the insurance agents, whose companies had been saved loss to the extent probably of thousands of pounds, had not only refrained from practically recognising the services, but not even a letter of thanks had been received from that august body. He contrasted with such alleged niggardly action the conduct of the Provincial Government vvho, without application scarcely, had promised while the old premises were in possession of the Government to give the brigade any rent which might arise from it, and to endeavor to secure a similar concession from the General Government when the property should pass over. To prevent misapprehension, he explained that the dinner at which the company had assembled that evening was not to be paid for out of the ordinary funds of the club, but by special private subscriptions of members, aided by the balance of the money given to the brigade at the time of the late fire. He hoped any remarks he had made would be taken in the proper spirit, although he must admit he would havegiven ittheinsurance agents a little warmer if he had been able to do so. But he had now to leave off, for the fact was that after having pitched into them he found himself down to propose their good health—(a laugh)—and now he must say something in their favor. He was glad to say he could do that, for in the past they had always received him courteously, and had subscribed cheerfully towards the cost of new plant. In fact, until this falling out—he could scarcely call it that—until this difference of opinion, they had recognised their responsibilities. No doubt there was some reason in their unwillingness to pay for the protection of uninsured property—he believed it was calculated two-thirds of the property in the city was uninsured—but they should not forgot that they had not specially contributed to the cost of the water supply. He regretted Mr. Hunter was not present, although he doubted not had that gentleman been present he (Mr. Moss) would have received from the insurance agents quite as much as he had sent. However he would not detain them farther, but wishing the companies greater success and less losses than in the past, he would propose " The Insurance Agents," coupling with the toast the name of Mr. Dobson—a gentleman who had lately come amongst them, and from whom he expected more liberal ideas. (Cheers.) Mr. Dobsos (resident manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company) returned thanks and said he much regretted thnt Mr. Hunter, who was still managing director of the New Zealand Insurance Company, was not present, for with his greater experience of Wellington, doubtless he would have completely answered Captain Moss. He (Mr. Dobson) certainly was not in a position to reply, but he would observe that he believed when the waterworks were laid down the insurance companies, if they had not subscribed a sum of money, had greatly eased the burdens of the inhabitants by reducing the premiums 12A per cent (Hear, hear.) He assured them insurance companies were not illiberal. In Christchurch they had recently subscribed £IOOO for buildiog3.—[A "Voice: They ought to have done that here] —and the reason they did not do more was that the proportion of insurers to the main body of property owners wa3 exceedingly small—he believed it had been calculated all over the world at about onesixth.

Mr. 'F. A. Kbdu next proposed the " City Corporation," coupling with it the name of the Mayor. He said it was the privilege of Englishmen to grumble, and having become an Englishman he had, and always intended to avail himself of that privilege. He had grumbled at the City Council, and should still indulge in the luxury ; but he must say this, that he had never been better pleased with Wellington civic administration than with what "he had aeen during the present Mayor'a term of office. He had not been acquainted with him before, but he recognised in him a capable gentleman, and although he had gone into office not very popular, still he hadshownthathedeserved trust and confidence, and he (Mr. Krnll) hoped he would remain in office. He referred to the remarks of Captain Moss, and said the agents were scarcely so black as they had been painted. It must be remembered that they were under the direction of companies who looked at their business as a whole, and found that if they did not lose in one place they did in another place. Personally, as a citizen of Wellington, he should like to see plenty of money given to the brigades, but he wa3 but an agent. Speaking as a citizen, and not as an insurance agent, he shouldadvisethepeopleof the city to do the same as had been done iu the city in Germany from which he had come. The insurance rates had there been 2jr per cent.; but as the people grumbled, to get over all difficulty the Corporation took over the insurance business and charged J per cent, —occasionally \ per cent. —by that means all property holders would be called upon to pay, and insurers specially charged the extra \ per cent. He was speaking now as a citizen, though perhaps Mr. Dobaon would not agree with him. Referring again to the City Council, ho thought he must grumble a little. Much more he felt might have been done towards supplying more

water. If the Legislature had not been ready with its sanction, the banks would have been ready with the money, and the Bill would have been passed making all right in the end. He mu3t grumble at the Mayor a little bit, though he quite believed that he had done more for the town than any other Mayor ever had.

The Mayor, in replying, said he felt he could not sufficiently reply to the kind remarks which had been made in reference to himself. He stood for election under very peculiar circumstances, and had been elected though the whole of the Press of the city had thought it their duty to oppose him ; but since that time some of the papers had been honorable and kind enough to acknowledge they were wrong. During the whole time he had been in office the record of the treatment he had received ftom the hands of the people had been an unvarying record of kindness and consideration, and he should indeed be ungrateful did he not endeavor to serve the city to the best of his ability. Speaking of the Municipal Corporations Bill now about to become law, he said the citiz-ms owed much to Mr. Hunter for the very great trouble he had been to in makiDg amendments in it. He (the Mayor) had, he feared, bored Mr. Hunter with amendments, all of which he had very kindly taken up and secured. As to the water question, he reminded Mr. Krull that there must be two parties to a bargain, and asserted positively that it was impossible to get the money before legislative sanction to the loan had been received. He thought the insurance companies scarcely contributed so much as they should do. One-third of the property in Wellington was insured—it was estimated there was £3,000,000 worth of property in the city, £1,000,000 of which was insured. If insurance companies would not come down in their rates, the Corporation would go in for Mr. Krull's plan. Captain Moss, as a Councillor, returned thanks, and took the opportunity of saying, after nine years' experience of civic business, he had never seen a better Mayor than the present. A number of other toasts were given, and after a very pleasant evening had been spent the company separated.