TAIHAPE FIRE BRIGADE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 September 1917, Page 5

TAIHAPE FIRE BRIGADE.

The monthly meeitng of the Tai- " hape Fire Brigade was held in the Fire Brigade Station last night, when there was a good attendance -ot members, presided over hy Captain Reid. T. • Shout 4?as unanimously elected a Member of the Brigade. The committee appointed at last meeting to go into the matter of holding the next District Fire Brigade Demonstration in Taihape reported that from inquiries made the guarantee of the prize money neces"sarv to hold the demonstration here could he obtained in a few hoursr-in fact, one enthusiastic townsman undertook to do this. Captain Rfl\d j In explaining the procedure necessary to approach the District Executive in order to hold the demonstration here, said the Brigade should send an invitation to District Secretary Henderson by October From the opinions he had obtained the delegates at the last Conference Taihape had a good fact he was morally certain their invitation would be accepted, Two other places — 1 Masterton and Leyin —were anxious to have the but notwithstanding fhis, he was sanguine of it coming here. He hadrhad>a communication from the District-Secretary inquiring how the Taihape Brigade was getting on in the matter. They would probably get all the associated brigades competing. After some discussion it was decided to send an invitation to the District Fire Brigades Association to hold the next demonstration in Taihape. . An honorarium of £1 10s was voted to the late secretary, Foreman Mortland, in recognition of his services during the past year. The necessary change in the name of the secretaries in the matter of signing cheques was authorised. Permission was granted to the Taihape Ladies’ Hockey Club to have the use of the Fire Brigade Hall to-night, and the Taihape Meat and Produce Co. on the 26th. Branchman Mathie reported on his inspection of the automatic fire alarms, which he said were satisfactory. Four new alarms had been installed and a fifth was being completed They would all be complete by next meeting.

Captain Reid considered every member of the Brigade ought to be with the working of the fire alarms. Branchman Mathie agreed with the captain, and said he was prepared to go round with any member and explain the working of the alarms. Captain Reid said t-his question suggested another matter which ought to be taken in hand, and that was the turning on and cutting off of the high pressure water suupply. It would, in case of a fire, sometimes be inconvenient for the Borough Foreman to do this. The messengers especially should be conversant with this important operation. Branchman Mathie was willing to give the necessary instruction to any member of the Brigade who desired to take advantage of the opportunity. Captain Reid brought up the question of telephonic installations In some of the executive members’ residences. He explained that the Borough Council was willing to contribute £2 for .each installation up to four. Foreman Mortland said he, for one, was willing to have a telephone installed. „ Fireman Strudwick was appointed > custodian of the Fire Brigade Station and plant. This-Concluded the business, and a vote of.'thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close. 27/ .j '