NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BRIGADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 98, 23 April 1903, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BRIGADE.

4.NNCJAL MEETING. There was a good attendance of mbmbers at the annual meeting of the Brigade on Tuesday evening, when Captain Bjllringer presid. d. In liisrepon the Chairman referred, with regmt, tn the death of Custodian Parker, and to the excellent order in which the plant was kept by the custodian and auxi iaries. Special thanks, he said, were d ut- ! to Mrs Dockrill and the ladies com mittee for the result of the annual bill,] whereby over £6O was received. The balanca sheet showed income as £226 110 i and expenditure £162 8j 4d. Tue report w&9 adopted. The same officers were ra-elected. It was decided to withdraw from the unclassified Faiendly Societies.

ANNUAL DINNER. I The spacious dining-room at Jubiiee Villa was well filled on Tuesday evening, when the members of the Brigade held their annual dinner. Cap tain Bellringer occupied the chair, Lieut. Boon being in the v ce-chair. Amongst tha visitors were His Worship tbe Mayor (Mr E. Dookrill), Or. Stohr, Secretary Robin 6( Hawera), Branchman Martin (Inglewood), 0 mujter (Jock, and others. An nxceptionally good repast was served by Mr Carter, the manager of the establishment, and was greatly appreciated by the guests. The first toast, "The King," was loyally received and honoured. A pleasant incident then took place, Or. Stohr producing a set of five silver medals, which he donated to the winners of the five men competition, and wan accorded a hearty ovation for his kindness, his health b'ing drunk with musical honours,

Tb<> Mayor, in miking the presentation to Secretary Ford, Custodian Way, Firemen Ford, Way, and Baal, said he congratulated the recipients on their victory, and hoped Or, Stohr'a example would be followed by others next year, as such trophies had a stimulating effect towards promoting efficiency. Mr Ford briefly but warmly thanked the donor for the medals, which would be highly prized by the recipients. The Ohurman than proposed "The Mayor and Councillors of the Borough," and in so doiDg referred to the practical interest taken by the Council in t'-.e Brigade, it b: ing the largest contributor to the funds, and keenly intereste i iii the Brigade's efficiency. Ha particularly thanked the Mayor and Mrs Deckrill for their valuable personal assistance, and mentioned that the success of the last ball wns a recosd one, over £6O being realised, this b-iing chiefly due to the effjrfs of Mrs Dockrill and the ladies' committee(applause). Or. S;ohv was also entitled to fie warmest thanks of the brigade for the practical interest he had shown in its welfare. According to the assistance received from the Oouacil so was the success of the Brigade ensured. Next year additional aid would be asked from the Council, as the E ist End Station required being placed on a permanent biw, and an alarm bell provided for the West End, He was sure, if the present Mayor was in office next year, the Council might be trusted to treat the Brigade in the same liberal way as in the past. The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm and with musioal honours.

The Mayor thanked the Brigale for their cordial recognition of the Council's assistance and expressed his gratification at the efficiency of the Brigade whose promptitude and energy in throttling a fire in its initial stage was the means oi Saving great loss of property and showed tbe great interest taken by the membsrs in their work, and also demonstrated tbeir efficiency. The i-xtension of the town would necessarily involve additional expenditure in providing for the increased work thrown on the Brigade and there was no doubt the Council would recognise this by according corresponding fiuancial support as in the past. Personally, ho would, whatherin or out of the Council, continue to bestow his support on the brigade to the best of his aoilicy, ss it had always done its duty with the utmost credit. Qe thanked the Osptain for the flattering references to VJrs Dockrill's services which had always been rendered with tbe greatest pleasure for she regarded the Biigade as the moat important institution in the town.

Or. Stohr also briefly responded. The Mayor then proposed " The New Plymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade," remarking that it was an organisation of which the townspeople were justly proud. Captain Bellringer, in responding, said the Brigade was now well equipped with hose and appliances, and the men might well be termed the pick of the town. Consequently the Brigade was in a very fit state. The Chairman proposed the United Fire Brigades Association, c upliag therewith the name of Mr B. C. Robbins, an ex-President of the Association. He referred to the excellent work being done by Mr Bobbins in placing the Brigades on a satisfactory footing, and in persevering wioh his little Bill to achieve this obj ct. He hoped that Messrs Smith and Jennings would support the Bill. The toast was accompaniod with musical honours.

Mr Bobbins, in response, said he was sorry that the membe s of Parliament referred to were njt present, for had they been there they have got sime apecifio promise from them in regard to placing the fire ssrvica of the colony on a better footing. At present nearly every Brigads in tha colony was in the Association, which now possessed a' strength that forced the attention of, the colony. The Union had also done j a great deal of good in boldiug contests,' and in many other useful directions, j These proved a great benefit to the i Brigades, and cemented a aomra ieihip; between fireman throughout! Now Z-u- j land. When be saw the various stations it made him burn with anger to think that the firemen were so badly equipped and required plant to carry. out their dutie.". Such shoull not b9 the case with volunteer bodiev In many respects-the stations were' mere sheds in wbich a nun would not' stall a favorite horse, and some of their | meeting places were such as would not bs used by some men to house a dog, This state of affiirs should not be allowed, as fire brigades should be placed ■ on as good fiaaDcitl footing as volun-j teera. It was only right as working ; vo unteers to ask the Government, to \ assist them, and they were now doing | so in the form of a Bill which was; known as " tbeir pet bill." Nearly the' whole of the Press of the colony advo-. cated the claims of tho Brigades, i lis' Premier said that the time had arrived j when the Brigades should be assisted, and he considered that the first steps! towards this would be a State Fu'd In-! Buranca Bill, to be followed by a Maintenance Bill. Mr Robbing eaid he

would not let the matter rest, but would see it tbnugh. (Appl<use.) Other toasts folio ved and were duly honoured.

During the evening some excellent songs were given by Messrs Pickforl, Newton, Ryan and Ainnwortb, Mr U nnett contributing a patter reciti niou in capital s'yle. Mr Rountrte presided at the pi<no, A most emjoyable evening wa* closad with " Auld L»ng Syne."