The File Brigade.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 91, 21 April 1904, Page 2

The File Brigade.

ANNt'AL REPORT. The folfdwi'ug is the text of the unnual report presented by Cuptain ilcllrinjger at the annual meeting! on Tuesday evening : "To the ollicers and members.—l have again the pleasure ' of presenting to you my annual report and of eong'ratul'utin'g the brigade on a prosperous and successful year's operations, sdvowing that tho bHji'adc is still to the front as one of the most important institutions of our town. The statement of accounts submitted to you shows that the brigade is financially sound and secure. The income for the year lyoij-l amounts to £270 Us Id, and the disbursements to £21!! is 2d, leaving a balance of £t;a 7s lld to the credit of the year's transactions. This may appeur to be a laijge bntonce to bring forward, but when expenditure recently incurred has been met only a small balance will be left. lam pleased to report that a Bill was before the last Parliament making better provision for the maintenance of fire brigades thniujghout the colony, and although it was not placed on the statute book of New Zelund, I trust that before another year expires that we shall not be under the necessity of appealing so often to the public for funds to carry on the work of the brigade, The best thanks of the brigade are due to Mrs UockriU and her committee for the splendid manner in which they carried out our annual ball, the funds being augmented by £75 from this effort. We have also to thank His Worship the Mayor and the Borough Council for the grant ol £25 per quarter. With the above funds 1 am glad to say that I have been ab-e to maintain a most efficient brigade. The necessity for more accommodation „[ t - m p.-evention appliances in the east ward has been aid belore the Borough Council, and lor this purpose the sum of £275 will, 1 understand, be placed on the boroutgh estimates. I sincerely hope that in a few months hence we may be in occupation of commodious ami up-to-date premises in li.e East end of the town. "The zeal, energy and attendance of the members lias been all I could desire. This applies especially to the members living on the station. Thy custodian has discharged his duties in a very efficient manner. All the stations are clean and tidy. "The borouyh lias been singularly free from (ires, there not having Ibeen a lire of any importance for the year The number of alarms given was six. "In concluding, 1 have to tender my thanks to the members for the energy they have, displayed at. both fires awl practices, and for the invariable courtesy 1 have received at their hands. I also desire to thank the secretary for the able and efficient mailer in'which he has dis-i charged his duties." The following officers were elected • —Captain, Fred llellringer (re-elect-ed) : lieutenant. A. Boon (re-elect-ed) ; loremen (central) J. Roberts east end, .1. Clarke; west end' .1' Johnson (reielected) : ladder foreman, D. Partington (re-elected) ; secretary, Fireman T. R. Foi,-<i , re _ elected) - troasurcr. Mr P. Bell-ring-er (re-elected) ; custodian, Fireman .1. Way (re-elected) ; executive, Firemen 11. Yates and W. Sadler, and officers ex officio ; auditors, Firemen 1 W. Way and F. Moverley, At the annual dinner on Tuesday ; evening prizes won in the recent competitions were presented. The ichahenge cup, previously held bv the ;■( villi al team, was prcscnied to the r i:"t OT « 1 ?'" Actiiig-Poremao Cak. s,.ts of cutlery nere awa.M----w a ] ,f " tena "t ]»<>< m «ud Fireman w. Sadler, winners of the two-nun competition. Captain Hellrln-ger announced that the prize medals were not yet to tend, but would he presented nt the •arlicst opportunity.