STRATFORD FIRE BRIGADE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 44, 21 October 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD FIRE BRIGADE

ANNUAL MLETINC. The 21st annual meeting of the Stratford Volunteer Fire Brigade was held in the Fire Station on Tuesday night, when Capt. Grubb presided. Owing to two of its menibors having fallen at the Dardanelles, the brigade deemed it advisable to conduct the meeting privately.

The annual report was road as fol-

lows : The total receipts for the year have I been £173 16s 2d, including the bal- 1 a uce brought forward from last year < of £7l 18s b'd. Of this amount £l3l 1 is 7d has been expended and £35 let out on interest, leaving the credit balance of £7l Is 7d. This creditable balance is due to the Pantomime Co. and Hard'Time Social held during the year. The total musters of the Brigade for the year has been 31J comprising: Practices 12, meetings 14, fires 3, false alarms 2. The fires during the year wore most of a serious nature, and all had a good hold before the alarm was given. Of the three fires the Borough Council Chambers, which involved four shops, was, the most serious. During the lire theBrigade were greatly handicapped for walit of a better water service, and only with hard work oil the part of the firemen and the able manner ill which (he officers attacked the lire, were the Brigade able to save the adjoining properties. Mr T. Mercer's fire also had a good hold when the alarm was given, and only with very strenuous work were the Brigade able- to save Mr S. Bivac's shop. During the past year the membership of the Brigade has been kept well up to its full strength, although ten firemen have answered the Call to Arms. It is with deep regret your committee have to place on record the death of two of our brother firemen, Firemen N. Dewar and C. Kennedy, who both fell at the Dardanelles lighting for their King a nil Country. Two of our iiremen, Firemen A. Evans and C. Milner are reported wounded, and wq trust they may have a speedy recovery. We are sure the members of the Brigade are proud to acknow ledge the firemen who have answered the Call to Arms as brother firemen and trust to see them safely return and again he ready for duty on the alarm of fire. Secretary Bradley's trophy for the best ance has been won by Foreman W. Rowson and Branehman W. Brocklebank. As two members claim the honors this year the Secretary has decided to give both members a trophy. Liolit. Davey's trophy, which has been i competed for by members of the Bri- ! gadej has now been won outrighfc by Custodian Burgess. We trust that more trophies will be forthcoming during tho ensuing year for competition by the members. The thanks of the Brigade are due to the Borough Council for the gear supplied, also to the general public who have donated to the Brigade and supported the Brigade's functions. The U.F.B.A. conference and demonstration wag hold at Timaru on February last. Captain Crubb, representing the Brigade at the conference, aiid Lieut. Davey, Foreman Drake, Custodian Burgess, Secretary Bradley, and Firemen E. Brocklebank and J. McDonald represented the Brigade at the demonstration, but regret they did not have any success, although under the conditions in which they ran they deserve every credit in the interested manner in which they trained and ran. The Brigado still hold the Elfcham-Stratford Shield, Eltham Brigade being unable to raise a team to compete this year. In February next the Taranaki District F.B.A. hold their bi-annual demonstration in this town. Your committee would like to see a team from tliis Brigade enter for several competitions at the demonstration, and trust tboy may be very successful. During the year Treasurer Alf. Moon and I'ireman A. S. Davis organised a Pantomime Co. in aid of the Brigade funds. The thanks of the Brigade are due to these two members for their untiring and whole-hearted services. On September 9th the Brigade held a torchlight procession and hard time social, which returned a creditable balance of £2l 3s lOd. Your committee desire to thank the members for the way they worked on the occasion of this affair. Tho thanks of the Brigade are due to the ladies' and gentlemen who so kindly assisted, and also tho Press, who have done all in their power to assist and help, in the interests of the Brigade. In conclusion, your committee trusts that this Brigade', by careful management, and with the assistance of the members, will maintain the strong position it has now attained. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Capt., T. G. Grubb; Lieut., A. J. Davey; Ist Foreman, W. Rowson ; 2nd Foreman, E. A. Drake; committee, W. Brocklebank, F. Davies, G. King; secretary, Geo. J. Bradley; treasurer, Alf. Moon; custodian, B. Burgess. At the conclusion of routine, business, light refreshments were partaken of.