FIRE BRIGADES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 1 February 1915, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADES.

TARANAKI DISTRICT CONFERENCE. (I'rom Our Kaponga Correspondent.) Tliu United Taranaki District Fire Brigades' Association, held its annual conference at Kaponga on. Friday evening Present: The president, Captain T. G. Grubb (Stratford), presiding; vicepresident, Captain W. H. Griffiths (Fitzroy);: Superintendent H. A. Nuttal(Eltham); Fireman Inns (Manaia), Lieutenant Aroa (Fiteroy), Lieutenant L\. ,T. Davey (Stratford), Captain Caldwell (Inglewood), Second-Foreman H. A. Hurley (Hawera), Lieutenant A. Boon (New Plymouth), Superintendent W. E. Ward (Kaponga), Deputy-Superinten-dent J. Champion, secretary and treasurer (Hawera). The chairman welcomed the delegates. The annual report was read as follows: —"In presenting the annual report, it gives me great pleasure to state that' wo have every reason to congratulate ourselves on the progress we have made and maintained. Another year has passed since we gathered around this tahle in conference. Many disasters have occurred, both by fire and water. Another disaster- —the greatest of all being that dreadful monster, war. Members of the fire service throughout the Dominion have, as usual, shown their quality when the call of duty came their way. The call for active service has found firemen amongst the first to volunteer, and not only throughout the Taranaki province, but from the whole Dominion, many of the best men of the I brigades have nobly responded to that call. This is the proud note, and it goes without saying that every man can be relied upon to uphold the honor of his country and the fire service when he reaches the front. 'We tru?t thflt- the\ may all be spared to return tb their respective homes and brigades covered with honor and glory. Out of five brigades thirteen members were accepted for the Expeditionary Force, as follows: Stratford (6): Foreman Evans, Firemen Milner, Gorton, Dewar, Voyle. and Kennedy. Hawera: Firernen Hauch. West, and Ure. Inglewood: Firemen. Harris and "Duffill. Patea: Fireman Fitzwater. Eltham: Fireman HaStedt. Probably others have gone whose names have not been sent to me. If such is j the case, I would like delegates to bring the matter Before their brigades, and send me the names, so as to have a record' of same. I am pleased to state that the. finances of the Association are in a healthy there boing practically no liabilities and a fine cved'f balance to carry forward, which is now in the hands of the treasurer. Now that the credit balance has reached such an amount, I would suggest to the conference the question of opening up an account in the bank. I have refrvrK'' 1 from doing so. as the funds would no' stand paving out 10/ for keeping th" account. 0" behalf "f the iwutive. ■'"sire to mention their appreciation of the manner in which the officers an'l members of the Waitara brigade, also the Citizens' Committee, who entertained the visitinw brigades at the last conference and demonstration held in their town." The financial statement was as follows: —Receipts: Subscription f^"- 1 ten brigades. ,£10; special levy, £2 10s: balance from last year, £5 4s. Total, £l7 14s. Voted to ? tary, £2; executive expenses, Waitara, £l' 9s fid; for shield and engraving, £ 1 Is; tvning circulars. Ins 6d; secretary's disbursements, 7s. Total, £5 13s. Cash in hand by treasurer, £l2 Is. Total, £l7 14s. In moving the adoption of the report, the president congratulated the Association on its sound position, and made feeling reference to those members who had joined the colors. He also congratulated the secretary upon the able manner in which he had carried out his duties during the last year. Several other delegates endorsed his remarks. The secretary's re opening an account rfc the bank was adopted. It' was resolved that the secretary's honorarium he £3 3s. Secretary Champion, on behalf of the Patea Brigade, moved the fn'V" motion: —"That the Taranaki Demonstration he always held prior to the first week in October." Seconded by Captain Ward. —Defeated. Delegates were unanimous that it would be detrimental to the function, a3 they considered it too early, as it was only during the long evenings that most of the brigades could get in the necessary practice. The following .motions were withdrawn: -"Ring to be • fixed on end of testing spanner; judjs' to pull by ring only; ring to be not less than 1% inches; that, owing to the Association being in its infancy, and lack of funds, elective officers pay their own expenses." Captain Caldwell moved as a recommendation: At the meeting of the N.XTJ.F.B.A. to be held m February at Timaru, that a motion be moved, asking the Government, when planning out new townships, to reserve sites for fire brigades.—Eeft in the hands of the president, all present being in accord with the suggestion. Lieutenant A. J. Davey, on behalf of Stratford Brigade, invited the next demonstration to be held at Stratford. The invitation was accepted. Lieutenant Davey intimated that they were holding a carnival, and would include fire brigade events, the proceeds of which were to be devoted to the purchase of a new motor engine, and ho trusted tnat all brigades present would send a team. The election of officers resulted:— President, Captain Griffiths (Fitzroy); vice-presidents, Captain Nuttall (Eltham), Lieutenant Boon (New i-ly-mouth); secretary and treasurer, sjk-piitv-Snperiiitenilent J. <;i nmpion (Hawera) ; auditors, Captains Ward (Kaponga) and Caldwell (Inglewood); trustees, president and vice-presidents. The retiring president installed the officers, all of whom returned thanks. Votes of thanks to the retiring president and past officers concluded the meeting, after which Captain Ward, on behalf of the Kaponga- Brigade, invited all delegates present into the supperroom for refreshments, which were very much appreciated. After full justice had been done to the good things, the following toast list was discussed, interspersed with musical items:—"The King" (chairman), "Taranaki -Association," "President and Vicepresidents," "Visitors," "Kaponga 'Fire Brigade," "Comrades at the Front, " and "The Press." The following gentlemen contributed itemß: -Messrs. Home, Inns, Bradley, Melville, Stevens, Des Forges, Hurley, and King, The singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought one of the most enjoyable evenings ever held in the local hall to a close. Visitors were loud in their praise of the hospitality of the Kaponga Brigade.