FIRE BRIGADES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADES.

TARAXAKI ASSOCIATION'S CONFER. ENCE. The Taranaki United Fire Brigade's Association held its first conference at New Plymouth last night. Superintendent I. C. J. Bellrmger, of New Ply mouth (president of the Association) presided over the following attendance of delegates:—Vice-president Captain T W. Rolston (Inglewood), Vice-president Captain T. G. Grubb (Stratford), Secretary IT. Ford (New Plymouth Brigade) Fireman J. Champion (Hawera, secretary of Association), S. D. Inns (secretary Manaia Brigade), Lieutenant <i. Bird (Waitara), Lieutenant L. t! Adams (Patea), Superintendent H. A. Nuttall (Eltham), Captain W. H. Griffiths (Fitzroy), Deputy-Superintendent MeAneny (Hawera), and Branchman W. R. Boon (Stratford). 1 In welcoming,the delegates to the conference, Mr. Bellringer said that New Plymouth had tried to put a programme before them at the demonstration that would qualify them for competent work. He expressed pleasure at the large number of entries, and hoped that the various events would be productive of close' finishes. He hoped all would carry away pleasant recollections of the content. He regretted that circumstances over which the New Plymouth Brigade had no control had precluded the possibility of holding the demonstration on the Recreation Ground. Concluding, he said there was that keenness among the brigades that augured well for the success of the Association.

The secretary of the Eltham Brigade, which had omitted to nominate by the stipulated date, forwarded late entries for several events, and after Captain Nuttal had explained the position, it was agreed to allow Eltham to compete on the payment of a late entrance fee.

The executive was authorised to procure a shield for competition at the demonstrations, at a price not exceeding £B. A tender was received from an Auckland firm for the manufacture of one at £ls, but this figure was considered excessive.

The following officials were appointed in connection with to-day's demonstration: Starter, F. Carrington; time-board keeper, J. Elliot; protest committee. F. Carrington, R. Ford, Nuttnll: call steward, Superintendent Bellringor; judges, Captain Griffiths, Secretary Champion, ex-Captain Kevell, Captain' Grubb, and the protest committee; iime-keeper. Mr. J. Bennett.

On behalf of the Wailara Brigade, Lieutenant G. Bird invited the Association to hold the next demonstration at Waitara, where there was, he said, a good ground and a likelihood of much public support.—The application was filed for future reference. The next demonstration will be held in ]fll4, in either February or March. Tt was decided to draw the attention of the New Zealand executive to the unnecessary heavy work which was being put into several of the events in the programme of the Wanganui demonstration. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows for the ensuing year: President, Captain Rolston (Tnglewood); vice-presidents. Captain Grubb (Stratford) and Dcpulv-Sup-erintendent McAneny; ''secretary and treasurer, Mr. Champion (Ha'wcra); auditors, Captain Nuttall and Lieutenant Bird.