OTAKI VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 25 April 1919, Page 3

OTAKI VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

ANNUAL REPORT AND BALANCESHEET.

Following are the report and balancesheet, presented to the recent annual meeting of the above: — The Otaki Volunteer . Fire Brigade was formed as the outcome of a meeting called' at the request ■of numerous citizens by the Chairman of the Town Board to consider Otaki’s helpless condition in the ease of lire, and to devise some means to. remedy the same. At a subsequent meeting held in the Druids’ Hall on April 12, 1918, it was resolved that those present form themselves into a volunteer fire brigade. At- a meeting of members held on the 24th April the following officers were elected: —Cap- | tain, V. Bassett; first lieutenant, A. H. i Hill; second lieutenant, E. H. Claridgo: secretary, Harold Cockrell. Also at this meeting the subscriptions of the Greytown Volunteer Fire Brigade, with alterations to suit our circumstances, were adopted. Mr St. George offered to the brigade, as a meeting-room, a corrugated iron building for the sum of. £SO, with right of removal,-payment to be made in six months for same. The building was removed to its present site on the Town Board's section, but we regret to report that so far it has not been paid for.

Plant and Equipment,—Subsequent to the first public meeting mentioned above, the Minister for Internal Affairs was written to asking him to allow Supt. Hugo, Government Fire Inj spector, to visit Otaki and advise as to the most useful equipment for us. After viewing the business portion of the town, and examining water supply, etc., his-verdict was given in favour of hand pumps and a chemical engine. Ho was careful to point out that this was only a “first aid” equipment; that the i best fire extinguisher was a high-pres- | sure, water supply. The Town Board ' decided to adopt the inspector’s rccomI mendations. The hand pumps were sc- ' cured immediately and tho chemical engine ordered, but the latter did not i arrive until September, i Finance. —As you will see by the ac- ! companyiiig balance-sheet, the Brigade is iu a fair position financially. The general public has responded splendidly to the call for funds, although we regret to report that some residents have not fulfilled the promises of support, some of them given at the public meeting. Tho Chairman of the Town Board held out a hope of being able to subsidise us to the extent of £IOO, but unfortunately this had to be reduced to j £SO. IVe hope, however, to sec a fur- t thcr £SO placed on the estimates for the coming year, and would urge the new executive to give this matter their immediate consideration. The Fire Brigade is of benefit to all, and wo think that in all fairness it should be a charge on the rates so that all may contribute something towards its upkeep, making an appeal to the more generous and public-spirited ones in the community unnecessary. Meetings.—The regular meetings of tho Brigade have been held every. month, and several special meetings j and practices have been held. Enter- J Innately, owing to the roll-book having f been removed from the room by some j person unknown, a complete record of I the attendances is missing. Wo would impress on members the necessity of attending meetings and practices regularly, as only by so doing can that “efficiency” in fire fighting be gained > which counts as much in Ihe subduing of a fire as the apparatus used. Calls. —The Brigade only received one call during the year—to the .Jubilee Hotel, to put out 'a chimney fire. Members turned out well on that occasion, and did promptly all that was necessary.

In conclusion, we know our equipment is not all that could be -desired. Lack of fuuds is partly the cause of this; but the lack of a high-pressure supply is the main reason for our having to resort to other means of firo extinction. However, as the secretary of the United F.B. Association Avrote me, “Wo must walk before wo can run,” aud the formation of a brigade in Otaki with only a small equipment •marks a long step forward on the road of progress.

To those members who are inclined to • give up at the end of the first year we would say “Don’t!” Remember all the difficulties that have been over- : come iu the year that is past. H ith each member working enthusiastically ■ a nd putting-his shoulder to the wheel : we will yet «lo things that we shall be * proud of. ! Receipts.—To members’ subscrip- | tions (22) at 2s 6d, £2 13s; donations, i £lsl 17s Pd; subsidy from Town BoaTd, f£so. Total, £204 12s 9d.

Expenditure.—By petty cash, £1 3s 9d; subscription anil entrance fee to E.F.8.A.. £3 16s: material, etc., for room, £27 16s 2d; labour, etc., £ll Ids: painting, £3; syren. £11; chemicals, £5 9s 7d; Otaki Town Board, part payment engine, £130; bank fees, 10s; chequebook. ss; hose, £3 0s Gd; “Otaki Mail,” £4 Is; cash in bank £6 4s 4d, less cheque outstanding £5 9s 7d. Total, £204 12s 9a.

Assets. —To engine £130; hand pumps £6; room, £7O; sundries, £5; c-ash in bank. 14s 9d; petty call in hand, 7s lid. Total. £212 2s Sd. Liabilities. —Town Board, balanc-e on engine, £2O; L. St. George, room, £SO: sundry creditors, £1 4s 7d; Cr. balance, £l4O lSs Id. Total, £212 2s -Sd.