NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BRIGADE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1917, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH FIRE BRIGADE

ANNUAL MEETING.. The annual meeting of ths New Rj> mouth Fire Brigade was held last night, Superintendent P. C. Bcllringer preside ing over a good muster of brigadesmca, ELECTION OF OFFIOERS. All Inst year's officers were re-elected,' Lieut., A. Boon; Central foreman, H. Kurd; v )Vest foreman, J. Johnson ;' ladder foreman, J. Clark; secretary, H. Ford; treasurer, Superintendent Bellringer; executive committee, Firemen H. 1 Inch and W. Roch; auditors, Fireman W.' Way and Custodian P. Doughty. SUPERINTENDENT'S ADDRESB. Superintendent. Bellringcr congratulate ed the officers on their re-election, thuß indicating that they still retained the confidence in the firemen, and was an indication of the harmony that had existed between the officers and the men. ivJio had elected them. He referred to the. fact that seven of their members—practically one-third—-were away on active service, and expressed the hope' that all members would be present to welcome them back to their old duties in the Are service. The year, he said, had been a very heavy one as regards fire calls, and as, regards fire losses was the heaviest! in the history of the brigade. He ox-i pressed appreciation of the way the members had worked and responded when called upon. He referred to the keen interest taken by the Fire Boarc". in all matters appertaining to the welfare of 1 tho brigade,-and their readiness at all times.to provide die town with first-; class plant, Instancing the provision of; tho Dennis Gwynne motor, and Bally! telescopic ladder, and also the proposed' Installation of tlie street fire alarm ays-' tem. At no time in the history of tho brigade was it in such a state of efficion-' cy. In common with other brigades, they felt the heavy strain made by the war, on members, but members were prepared' to make even greater sacrifices in their' cervices in protecting the town against 1 fire. ! THE ROLL CALL. ,:• '; The secretary stated that there had been 43 roll calls during the year—just ono less than 1002-1903, which was tho record year. It proved a record for' alarms,- there being 18, as against the L previous record of 10 a few years ago., flic lowest number of alarms was 5, in- 1 ISO 7-98. The roll call of members showed that Foreman Ford and Custodian' Doughty were present on each occasion. Other attendances were Superintendem,; Bellringer, Foreman Clark, Fireman Ro-' berts 41, Lieut, Boon 40, Fireman Moon 30, Fireman Partington, Lambert, Allan : 37, Conrtenay 30, Foreman Johnson, Firemen Way, Inch 34, Lye 33, Knowles 32. The superintendent considered this a very fine record, showing the keenness that firomen took in their work. VOTES OF APPRECIATION.

A resolution was passed, expressing recognition of the services of the following members who have gone on act live service fighting for the Empire—' Firemen W. Hoch, G. Malata, W. J. Bellringer, A. Bowie, A. Taylor, K. Beu and T. Roberts, and it was resolved to record this appreciation on the minutes. The. chairman referred to.the valuable services rendered by the brigade at several functions, and also in connection Ivilh the care of the station by the custodian's wife (Mrs. P. Doughty), and it was rosolved to forward her a letter pressing thanks and appreciation of those Bervie.es. . " A POPULAR SECRETARY. Members of the Brigade then spent m hour or two in harmony round the festive board. Superintendent ■ Bellringer presided. Captain Griffiths and Lieut' Aroa, of the Fitzroy Fire Brigade, were among the guests. Apoiogics tor absence "•ere received from Messrs J. Paton chairman of the Fire Brigade, and other members. Proceedings opened with the National Anthem, after which an excellent lengthy and diversified musical programme was rendered, to which the following contributed:—Pianoforte selection, Mr T. L Shone; banjo selection, Mr liadd; musical imitations, Mr Vinson; storiette, Foreman Johnson; violin solo, Mr W. J. Lichtwark; pianoforte selection, Mr E. Golding; imitations on violin, 'Mr Lichtwark j comic songs by comedian J. Lovell (2) ; songs, by Fire, men H Moon, A. Courtney (2), Messrs I. J. Woods, R. ganders, W. Keys, A. Howlatt and W. MoAlpine. Messrs Shone, E. Golding, and Gadd plaved the accompaniments. During the evening the superintendent presented Secretary H. Ford with the association's gold star for 35 years' service. If any fireman ever deserved his star, he said, that fireman was Secretary; I'ordv who had during the whole time* taken an active part both in tha competition field and in the work of ' the brigade, tieing one of the most efficient men in the Dominion. From the date of (us joining he had taken a keen interest m the welfare of the brigade and its having been secretary for 20 ycavs. Though Secretary Ford would have liked to retire that evening, he felt that members had done right in persuading liiin to again accept office. The sub-superintendent, Lieut. Boon, gave some interesting reminiscences of the brigade during his 18 or 19 years of membership, and on behalf of the brigade < presented the secrclarv with a rolltop desk, expressing the "iNsh that he would use it for many years. s Foreman and Secretary Ford, in returning thanks, said he hoped the kind remarks were deserved, and gave soma interesting details of his experience's at fireman.