NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BRIGADE.
ANNUAL MEETING. There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the New Plymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade, whiel took place lasl evening. Captain Bell ringer presided. The captain, in his annual report, referred lo the few calls during the yeal and lo the brigade's representation a I the conference and demonstration at Chrislcliurch. where the reputation of the brigade on the iiedl was worthily upheld. It was gratifying to him to be able to say that tile brigade is held m high respect bv comrades throughout the colony. Reference was made to the Fire Brigades' Act. bv whose provisions -the nuances of the brigade could he -made secure. The continued interest by meni-l-.-rs in the working of Ihe brigade';, alfnirs was very commendable. The membership of 211 years averaged S l /., years' of service, whilst the average attendance at ,'lt musters had been ill I-,'i members. The plant had been augmented by additional hose and coupling and a new'bell for the eastern station. With the kind assistance of the ladies of New I'lvmoutli. under Hi.' presidency of the Mivi.rcss. Mrs. Dnckrill. flic brigade had been able to keep the accounts balance,',
laud to them the verv best tluniks wer. lice. Iu conclusion, in- desired to than! Ihe oliiu-rs ai'd in-n for the ready as ;i,-,-;.in;e and support aciorded to Inn during the year, and expressed the.'hop! that the happy ivkulon-dup which bad s, long cxi-ic.t might continue through tin veal's to come. The total receipts were CIV.) ISs, am expenditure C1!>1 7s lid, leaving a creilil of laS lis .'ill. Against this there is t. liability of CiO for 1000 feet of hose cou]di]]g and branches purchased limn the demonstration at Cliristchurch.
Officers were appointed as follows: Lieutenant. Boon; fi>reniaii--Centrnl. J. Roberts: WesCM. Johnson:- East, J. Clark: ladder foreman. T. Partington; secretary. Fireman 11. 11. Ford; 'treasurer. Captain liellringer; custodians— Central, Fireman J. Way; East Ward, Fireman G. Lambert; auditors, Vireman Moverley and W. Way. Firemen Tempers and W. Sadler were appointed to the exocutire. E"ery ufiicer was reelected, except lh.it Firemen Way took Firemen 11. 11. Ford's place as auditor, the latter having been elected secretary. In answer to questions, Captain Bellringer explained the working of the Fire Brigades' Act.
ANNUAL RF.UXIOX. The annual dinner was held in the Troeadero at the conclusion of the business meeting. Captain ISellringer presided, with the Mayor of New Plymouth and Councillors' Monleath. Webster, ami Parker, and Mr. A. 11. Kendall (borough engineer) on his right; Captain R. 11. Kiveli (Stratford), ex-Captain 11. 'l'. Aiusworth, ex-Lieutenant V. CaningI.OU, and ex-Lieutenant (!. Cock (life meniliers), Councillors C'ollis and Browne on his loft. Lieutenant Boon occupied the vice-chair. The menu provided by Mr. Ci. Hale was a liberal oue, and the whole arrangements were excellently conceived. "The King'' having been loyally honored, .Messrs. Cornwall Bros, and McEwen contributed an instrumental trio (encored). Mr. W. A. Coilis, in proposing the toast, of "The Parliament of New Zealand,'' mentioned the new Fire Brigades' Act, which would considerable improve llio financial status of lire brigades, in that it made (he insurance companies contribute some practical recognition of the beneiits they derived from the operations of lire brigades. In the absence of Mr. F,. JL Smith, M.11.11., through illness, and Mr. YV. T. .lenuings, M.H.K., who had been called to an important meeting in another part of the. district, the Mayor and said that they had every reason to be proud of the Parliament of New Zealand.
Three years' certificates were tlien presented by the .Mayor to Firemen Clow, llardwick anil Prior. The Mayor proposed "The New Plymouth Fire Brigade." The people here, I lie. said, had for so long been excellently served by the brigade that it was hardly necessary to remind them of it; and at every competition held the members of the brigade bad gained and maintained <\n excellent reputation. Despite a scar, city of funds from the public purse the plant had always been kept in excellent order, and he hoped the new scheme of finance would enable I hem to be equipped so that they would always be in the front rank of New Zealand lire brigades. Captain llellringer replied, thanking th" .Mayor lor his expressions of ennlideuce. The brigade had been in existence for :';> years, and had justified its existence. '1 iie town had for the pa.d i! Avars lieT-n almost free from serious lives. In the past year there had been a record low number of calls. As Hi.Mayor had said, the financial assistance had not been what it should have been, for there was no really no assured income. But for the assistance given by the townspeople, in response to the appeals of the -Mayoress, Mrs. ];orkrill—(applause)—and others, they would iml be able, to carry on; and he objected to the practice of "faking round tlie Int." Secretary I'ord proposed •■Tin* -Mayor and Borough Council." mentioning the readiness of the Council to grant all the assistance it could manage. As the town grew, and the buildings grew upwards, mw appliances would be needed to cope with lires.
The .Mayor and (lie Councillors present hriellv responded, the Mayor remarking thai, he had never yet been connected with a Council that had failed to recognise its duty (o (ho brigade, the, ellieieuey of that institution, and the need for that efficiency. The tenor of the remaining speeches was highly appreciative of the brigade's service's, and the agile manner in which the firemen trained for and performed (heir dangerous work.
Other toasts were: 'The Visiting Firemen mid Our Lilo Members," proposed liy Cr. .1. 11. Parker, res|>oii(led hv Captain Kivell (Stratford), ev-Captaiii C. K Bcllriniiei, ex-Captain Ainsworth, exl.ieutennnt Oan'iugtou, ex-Lieutenant (.'nek; "'l'lie Army and Xavy,' proposed liy Cr. Monloath. responded bv Quartermaster Captain Cock; "The Christelmreh Team," proposed liy ex-Lieutenant Carringtou. responded liy l.ientenanl l!ooii;
-The Ladies." proposed liy Mr. ~), ]!ennetl, responded by Fireman Clow; '-The Musicians," proposed bv Foreman ,1. Clark, responded be Mr. P. Cornwall; "The I'rcs." proposed by (he ehairmaii, responded bv Press represenlalires present; "Our Host/' proposed bv Caotain Pollringer. Vocal duets were given bv Messrs. F. Coi-nwall and P. C. McFw'on. Fireman W. Moon, and .Mr. .1. Owes. Fireman Moon and Mr. A. Courtney; songs by Messrs. A. Courtney, .1. Crowes, P. Coni-' wall, l.en. Smith, Mclsaacs. P. (1. \i K . lOu'en, Fireman Moon, and insUunirnlal trio by .Messrs. 11. and F. C'oniwull and Mr. .Mi ICweu (mandolin and guitar). Mr. 11. •!. Cornwall played the accompaniments. "Aiild Lang' Sync'' concluded the proceedings. '
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 17 April 1907, Page 3
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1,089NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BRIGADE. Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 17 April 1907, Page 3
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