PUBLIC MEETING AT THE PROVINCIAL HALL.

Southland Times, Issue 1092, 18 January 1869, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE PROVINCIAL HALL.

On Friday evening, the 15th January, a public meeting was held at the Provincial Hall, Kelvin-street, for the purpose of re-organising the Fire Brigade. The Hall was well filled with citizens, and the utmost interest appeared to be manifested throughout the evening. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, and the representatives of the various Insurance Companies were also present. The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement convening the meeting. He said that the object of the meeting was truly and really what it represented to be, viz. : — the re-organisa-tion of the Fire Brigade. From various causes the old Brigade had ceased to exist, and he thought that some action should be taken to keep in efficient condition so necessary and important an institution. Judging from the support that the Brigade formerly received, the enrolment of members under the Ordinance would no doubt be as numerous as to justify the belief that the new institution would be well and efficiently carried on, and although there was no very great pecuniary assistance required — the Brigade being in possession of complete plant, comprising engines, hose carriages, engine house, hell tower, &c. — yet he had ] no doubt that if assistance was required it would be as freely given now as formerly. He could not forget, however, that the old Brigade had rendered most important services. Any onewhowitnessed the prompt and effective measures taken by the Brigade to suppress fires when they had occurred, would agree with him in testifying their sense of the obligations we were all under to the body of men who composed, the Brigade. (Applause). Indeed he would speak feelingly on the subject, because if it were not for their exertions his own house would have been burned down, a portion of it at one time having accidentally caught fire. It would be in the recollection of most of those present that some time since a Bill had been passed by Provincial Council, which provided for the formation of a Fire Brigade, fire police, &c. The Ordinance gave certain powers to the

officers of the Brigade which they had not possessed before ; in fact the Brigade had hitherto no legal existence. They could not pull down houses, or enter on tbe premises of any one without running the risk of being ejected as trespassers, although pur.iniiig their duty in extinguishing a lire. This was not right be<"usem a town like Invercargill, where the houses were almost exclusively composed of wood, it often became imperatively necessery, in order to check the spread of fire when it broke out, that houses should be pulled down to create a gap in the block, and thus save valuable property. From his own experience he he could bear testimony to the truth of this. He thought that some change was necessary, and iv lookiug over the various Fire Ordinances in existence in other provinces, he adopted the Canterbury one, as being in his opinion, best suited for the purpose. He regretted, however, that some of the clauses which he considered most essential had been struck out by the Council, but still a very useful measure had been passed, and it wad this Ordinance that they had met there that evening to enrol themselves under. [The Chairman here reviewed the comparative merits of the Canterbury and Southland Ordinances at considerable length and suggested certain alterations in the latter.] He thought that the Ordinance was open to improvement. "When the new Brigade was regularly constituted, no doubt suggestions arising from the practical knowledge of the members would be made to alter or amend the Ordinance, and the Government would be always willing to receive such suggestions with the view of rendering the Ordinance as workable aud efficient as possible. It would be necessary to obtain the names of 20 persons before the election of officers could be proceeded with, as that number was set forth in the Ordinance. After this was done it would be their duty to elect a chief Engineer — one who would be practically acquainted with the duties attaching to the office. He thought that he had sufficiently occupied their time, and would now call upon those acquainted with the action proposed to be taken to come forward and address them. (Applause). Mr W. Russell, Solicitor, said he had a resolution to submit, in doing which he desired to make one or two remarks. In the first place he would pay that he was exceedingly gratified to hear the lucid explanations of his Honor, and witness the interest he took in the matter. He believed it would be generally acknowledged that in a town, chiefly composed of wooden buildings, a Fire Brigade was essential, and should be formed upon the best possible system. The Volunteer Brigade that had been so long in existence, and had done good service, was not formed under any legislative Act, and its members had resigned, feeling that a reorganisation was desirable, and he agreed with their decision. In order to facilitate business, he would none without further remark, " that in the opinion of the meeting it is indispensibly necessary for the protection of the town from fire, that the Invercargill Eire Brigade be reorganised." Mr R. Buchanan, in a few remarks seconded the resolution. Mr John Wright, said, with the permission of the Chairman he would wish to make a few observations. He entirely agreed with the spirit of the resolution, bub there was a doubt in his mind as to forming the new corps under the Provincial Act — an Act which he considered an abortion ; one which could not be enforced with satisfation to the firemen or with benefit to the property holders. Upon these grounds, he considered the motion indefinite, and until seme information was given as to the basis upon which the new company was to be formed he could not give it his support ; if it was shown that the new organisation was to be an improvement on the last, he would, for one, join, and be all there when wanted, but not before. Mr Kingsland stated that, as Captain of the defunct Fire Brigade, it might be expected that he should give some reasons for the steps which bad been taken for disbanding the old Brigade. Some years since, there were large fires in Invercargill, and a want of an organised body to check their spread was keenly felt. A Fire Brigade was called into existence, the public supported it, and a large and superior plart was obtained, and the company was strong, but it was soon found that the Brigade having no legal existence, its operations were impeded, and in some instances rendered almost useless. They had no power to pull down a building in order to stay the progress of a fire, or even to enter private yards for the purpose of obtaining water. This was pointed out to the Provincial Government, and the desirability of legislating upon the subject was at once acknowledged. A Fire Ordinance was then drawn up and submitted to the Council. The existing Ordinance was not the one first prepared ; it was so altered in passing through the Couucil, that many who agreed with it in its original form, refused to enrol under it. He, for one, considered the Bill, as a whole, workable — certainly improvements might be made, and from what they had heard from His Honor the Superintendent, no time would he lost in causing the Bill to be j revised and amended, if by experience it was found that amendment was absolutely necessary. He then reviewed the Act, clause by clause, pointing out the portion that had been most objected to by members of the old Brigade, and concluded with expressing a hope that all the old firemen present would join with the others in a new organisation. Mr M'Pherson asked if the last speaker thought a sufficient number could be obtained. Mr Kingsland replied to the effect

thatif public interest was manifested, there was no doubt there could. He was no longer a member, but was still prepared to work when duty called. Mr Wotton, as an old member of the Brigade, and one of those still ready to work with a free will, said he thought before a new Company was formed, some clear understanding should be come to. They might got the required number of twenty, perhaps, out of those present, but would they be workers— it was workers that were required, and not parties who, as honorary members, would seldom or never attend practice, without which no Brigade could ever prove efficient. If those who joined did so with a resolve to do their duty under all circumstances, and use their influence _ to promote the prosperity of the institution, and a wise selection was made of officers, a good company could be established. After a few remarks from Mr Eussell , in reply, in which he stated that all the agents of the Insurance Companies would join, the motion was put to the meeting aud declared to be carried. Captain Harvey, 1.R.V., stated that after parade that evening he had brought the subject before his men, and he was happy to say they were prepared to give their assistance as a Fire Police Corps, provided they were under the direction of their own officers. Mr Eussell moved, and Mr Nutter seconded — " That it is desirable to organise a Fire Brigade under the provisions of the Fire Act, 1867, and that those parties present now enrol themselves." A discussion ensued in which some of the members of the old Brigade pointed out that it would be premature to enrol under the Act at that stage of the proceedings, inasmuch as they_ would bind themselves to a year's service, without knowing who were to be their officers, or how they c"v.H retire if circumstances necessitated a resignation. It was ex. plained by His Honor the Superintendent that the Government had no intention to make it a compulsory organisation. That after the company was formed, it would have the power to frame its own bye-laws, and suggest to the Government such alterations in the Act as might appear desirable, which would receive immediate consideration. Resolutions were brought forward for the ad' journment of the meeting for a week, in order to fill up the member's list previous to electing officers, which were ultimately withdrawn in favor of thesubjoinedresolution, proposed by Mr J. Harvey, viz. : — "That this meeting constitute itself into a Fire Brigade for the purpose of electing a Chief Engineer, and that the enrolment take place afterwards." The motion was carried. This terminated the business .of the meeting. A vote of thanks to His Honor the Superintendent tor his attendance, and to the late Fire Brigade, were carried unanimously. The election of a Chief Eugineer, in accordance with the above resolution, was then proceeded with. A number of gentlemen were proposed, most of whom declined the honor, and Mr George Reese was elected unanimously. Mr D. Macrorie was appointed Lion. Secretary. A number of those present signed the members' roll, aud the meeting was adjourned until Wednesday next, to be held at the Court House, at 7.30 p.m.