ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1918, Page 3

ELTHAM.

FIREMAN IN CONFERENCE. Eltham, Feb. 8. The annual meeting of deligatss representing the Taranaki District Cfaited Fire Brigades' Association was held bate last evening, there being present: Lieut, A. Boon (New Plymouth), president; past-presidents, Captains T. Q. Grubb (Stratford), W. Griffiths (Fitzroy), and. H. Nuttall (Eltham); delegates, Lieut. I. Aroa (Fitzroy), Fireman J. Champion (Hawera), Captain Coldwell (Ingle Wood), Fireman ,1. Croft (Stratford), Lieut. Murray (Eltham), Captain Ward (Kaponga), Branchman C. Blake (Manaia), DeputySuperintendent L. Rawson (Hawera), Secretary Carey (Patea). Waverley and Waitara were not represented. The annual report showed that eleven brigades were now in the association, Waverley being congratulated on having joined during the year. Finances showed that the year had been a good one, there being a credit of £ls. Efforts are being made to have a roll of honor prepared for the association, of firemen who have fallen at the front. Regret was expressed that some of the brigades had been a little slack in this connection. Lieut. Boon and Captain Grubb both spoke on the report, which showed that the officials had had a very good term of office. The report and balance-sheet) were then adopted.

A remit by the Eltham brigade: "That the annual subscription be increased to 255" created considerable discussion, but was eventually carried. Brigades behind in their subscriptions were also criticised, and • a suggestion made that these should be penalised, but this was thrown out, the secretary being instructed to urge the brigades in arrear to attend to the matter. The next conference will be held in New Plymouth, an invitation from that brigade having been unanimously accepted. The election of officers for the next term resulted: President, Lieut. I. Aroa (Fitzroy); senior vice-president, Eireman 3. Champion (Hawera); junior Vicepresident, Captain Ward (Kaponga); secretary, Foreman A. M. Burrows (Eltham), re-elected; treasurer, Superintendent H. A. Nuttall (Eltham), Reelected; auditors, Captains Grubb and Griffiths (re-elected). All the officers returned thanks for their election.' A vote of thanks was passed to the Borough Council for the use of the Council Chambers, and an adjournment was made to the Foresters' Hall, where delegates and visitors were entertained; to dinner by the local brigade. The Mayor presided over an attendance of 100, all thoroughly enjoying the bill-of-fare submitted that evening. Mr, Crump (Mayor), in welcoming the visitors, paid a great tribute to the firemen who were ever ready to do their best in the face of the greatest dangers. Lieut. Boon, on behalf of the association, acknowledged the "generous tribute of 'his Worship, and remarked that the conference assisted firemen in the practical, as well as the social, side of life. A len£pthy toast list was arranged, the toasts including "The King," "The United .Fire Brigade Association," "Absent Friends" "Local Bodies," "The Ladies," "The Press," etc. Vocal items, etc., were «ontributed by Messrs ft. Parrott, V. Philpotts, Hurley, Crofts, Irwia and Beesley. Messrs. Sars and T. Narbey presided fit the piano. The evening was one of the most convivial in the history of the firemen, many of whom regaled the meeting with anecdotes (grave and gay) of experiences in fire-fighting. GENERAL. Rifleman V. Thompson, who has been back from the front for some months now, and had a course of treatment at Rotorua, has found it necessary to make arrangements to go back again for further treatment. Shell-shock (his complaint) is a hard complaint to dislodge, and the Elthamite is finding it very discouraging. The hope of all is that Rifleman Thompson will find a permanent cure after this visit.