FIRE BRIGADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 149, 19 November 1914, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADE.

LONG SERVICE DECORATION. Fireman J. Roberts was the guest of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade on Tuesday evening at a social held at the Central Station, for the purpose of presenting him with the United Fire Brigades' Association's gold star, which is awarded to firemen after twenty-five years' continuous service. Fireman Roberts joined the New Plymouth Fire Brigade in September, 1889, and has been an active member continuously since that date. Superintendent F. C. J. Bellringer occupied the chair. After light refreshments had been partaken of a short toast list was honoured, interspersed with musical items. The toast list was as follows: —"The King," proposed by the Chairman, and enthusiastically drunk, followed by the singing of both the British and French National Anthems.

"Our Guest," was proposed by the Chairman, who referred to Fireman Roberts' lengthy and faithful connection with the fire service in New Plymouth. He had always been zealous in the discharge of his duty, had attended every fire in the town, and though placed in many important and dangerous positions fortunately had coir..: through without accidents of any kind. He had seen the growth of the Brigade, from a very small company of men housed in a small Bhed in Brougham fStrr.'t, with a primitive plant, consisting of an old manual engine, then to the hose and reel, and now to the up-to-date motor and other appliances, with the prospects of removal at an early date into an up-to-date fire station now being erected in Ljardet street. Tn presenting the Star, the Chairman alluded to the fact that this' decoration was not in the power of any one to receive unless faithfully earned by the recipient after long service. Fireman Roberts had fully qualified for it in every respect. A special tribute was also paid to the recipient's good work on behalf of the Brigade generally. Fireman Roberts had an enthusiastic greeting on rising to respond. He thanked them for the first-class manner in which they had entertained him that evening. He questioned whether he really deserved all the good things said I about him, but Fire Brigade work had ! appealed to him since his boyhood, when he saw the old military settlers working the old pump. He had always tried to do his duty, and hoped that he would long be spared to assist his confreres in the work of the Brigade. , ■ Lieutenant Boon, on behalf of the members of the Brigade, then presented [ Fireman Roberts with a silver coffee ser- \ vice, and silver-mounted oak tray, suitably inscribed. In,doing so, he stated that any citizen who had given 25 years of his life to the fire service deserved well of his comrades in the brigade, and they could not allow this opportunity to pass. ' Captain Griffiths, Fireman Ford, , Fireman Lye, Partington, and Lambert I also spoke in eugolistic terms of the recipient's work.

Fireman Roberts expressed his delight on receiving such a present, and on behalf of his wife and family, thanked the Brigade for. the thoughtfulness and kindness that had prompted them, and ho hoped that all the members would in time receive their decorations and similar honours.

A two years' service bar was presented to Fireman H. Moon, who has now completed eleven years' service. , m? ther toasts were "Visiting Firemen," 'The Musicians," and the "Press." During the evening songs were rendered by Messrs Len Smith, W. Keyes P. Glenmc, W. Ainsworth, C. Mclsaacs, B, Vinson, H. Brooks, Firemen A. Courtney and H. Moon. Messrs P. Glcnnie and L. Smith played the accompaniments. *■