STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in tte Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Or dera for payers may also be left wit!’, them. THE FIRE BRIGADE. ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER. October 12. The twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Stratford Municipal Volunteer Fire Brigade was held at the fire station last night, Superintendent T. G. Grubb presiding over a good muster of brigade members. The superintendent expressed pleasure that the meeting was attended by practically a full muster of the brigade, and also that old members of the brigade were present. The old members present were Councillors A. Stewart and T. Lawson.

The annual report and balance-sheet stated that the total receipts for the year ending October 1 were £155 17s, including the credit balance of £67 17s 4d brought forward from last year. The expenditure totalled £94 7s 6d, leaving a credit balance of £6l 9s 6d. The total musters of the brigade had been 31, made up of 13 practices, 12 meetings and 6 calls to fires. .The attendance to the 31 musters was as follows: —Superintendent Grubb 29, Foreman Brocklebank. Dep. Rowson, Fiftman W. Grubb and G. Brocklebank 3<L G. King and R. Dudding 26, W. Brocklebank and A. S. Davis 25, J. Pearce and E. Brocklebank 23, I. Smith and P. Aitken 21, J. Croft 20, C. Dudding IS, A. D. Bills, R. Pepperill 16, W. Milne, S. D. Harrison 12, G. Nea] 11, K. Rowson 10, A. H. Bills 9, J. McDonald 2. Only one fire, which was in the station, was of a serious nature. The brigade was represented at the U.F.B. associations’ conference and demonstration and though the team did not bring back any shields they gained considerable experience. The annual bail was a financial success and thanks were extended to the public for help towards the supper, etc. During the year the following had gained honors: —Deputy Superintendent W. Rowman, 2 years’ gold bar; Foreman Pearce, Fireman Davis and ex-Treasurer Moon, 2 years’ service bar. The total strength of the brigade is 22. During

the year 4 new members joined, one rejoined, and 2 left the district. Thanks were due to the auditors, Messrs. Burmister and Sole, official timekeeper. Mr. Pinhey, and the fire brigade, committee on the'council.

Superintendent Grubb, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the brigade should be congratulated on the working for the year and the fine credit balance. It showed what money the brigade could collect and that they were very careful in spending, the money. The report of the attendance of the brigade showed that the majority of members were very good attendee and the brigade was to be congratulated on the year’s work. Mr. Lawson congratulated members of the brigade on the successful year which had passed and the state of -the finances. He congratulated them on the excellent attendance at the meeting and hoped that during the coming year the brigade would be up to full strength.

Mr. Stewart endorsed Mr. Lawson’s remarks. As an old member of the brigade it was very gratifying to see such a good muster and it should be gratifying to the burgesses o: the town to know that a brigade could be kept up with such good men at the head. Superintendent Grubb presented the two years’ service bars to DeputySuperintendent Rowson, Foreman Pearce and Fireman King. Mr. Rowson recommended the superintendent to the Borough Council for reinstatement for the ensuing year.

The election of officers resulted as follows: Deputy-superintendent, Mr. Rowson; secretary and treasurer, Mr. P. T. Aitken; first foreman. Mr. J. Pearce; second foreman, Mr-. G. King; custodian. Mr. E. Brocklebank; auditors, Messrs. C. D. Sole and H. Burmister; committee, Messrs. W. Brocklebank, junr., J. Croft and A. S. Davis.

After the meeting the brigade’s annual dinner was held in the new supperroom and those present spent a very enjoyable evening. Superintendent Grubb presided, and there were present, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), Crs. S. Ward, C. Jackson, A. Stewart and T. Lawson, the town clerk (Mr. P. Skoglund) and borough electrical engineer (Mr. L. E. Vicary). Apologies for absence were receivea from Councllior W. Melnnes and Messrs. C. ’ D. Sole, H. Burmister and Boyd.

the evening the following toasts were honored: —The King; the Stratford Volunteer Fire Brigade, proposed by Mr. McMillan, and responded to by Superintendent Grubb; Stratford Borough Council, proposed by Superintendent G. b, and responded to by the members and officials of the council present: United Fire Brigades’ Association, proposed by Deputy-Superintend-ent Rowson, and responded to by Captain A. Stewart; Life Members, proposed by Fireman .1. Croft, and responded to by Messrs. T. Lawson and A. Stewart; Honored Members, proposed by Mr. Lawson and responded to by DeputySuperintendent Rowson, Foreman Pearce and Foreman King; The Accompanist, proposed by Superintendent Grubb, and responded to by Mr. J. H. Thompson, and The Press, proposed by Foreman J. Pearce.

In proposing the toast of the Brigade, the Mayor expressed appreciation of the work done during the year. There were other forms of fire brigade organisations, such as fire boards and paid firemen, but the voluntary system was better for the borough to-day, apart from the question of expense, than paid service. The past year had not been a strenuous one, but he congratulated the brigade on the very successful fire it had held in the station and which had been the means of the brigade’s getting a very handsome supper room. He leferred to the fact that this was the first occasion in many years in which Mr. C. D. Sole had missed an annual meeting and hoped that he would seen recover from his illness. He move.’ a vote of sympathy with Mr. Sole in his illness and the wish for a speedy recovery, which was carried in a hearty manner. During the evening musical items were rendered by Messrs. P. T. Aitken. A. S. Davies, J. Croft, J. H. Thompson, and W. Rowson, and proceedings closed with the singing of ‘ Auld Lang Syne.”

PERSONAL. ■Mr. F. Tyrer, headmaster of the Stratford District High School, will retire at the end of this year, after 37 years as a schoolmaster in New Zealand, for 30 of which he- has been a headmaster at Stratford. Dr. Steven has gained his fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. He will go from Scotland to London, where he will attend some of the big hospitals for a time. GENERAL. A special committee of the A. and P. Association visited the showgrounds yesterday when it was decided to effect various alterations to the luncheon room. A copper is to be provided at the back of the luncheon room for the supply of hot water to the public generally.

A walk through King Edward Park this morning showed that various repairs have been effected, which are. a great improvement. New seats have been provided and in one or two places where the growth was inconvenient or dangerous to the public, branches of trees have been cut down. The domain would be greatly improved if an appropriate entrance were provided at Fenton Street, and an imposing gateway would make a very appropriate war memorial. The park must be one of the finest reserves of native bush in New Zealand and should be a decided asset to the district.

One of the “silent policemen” which it is proposed to place at the intersections of Broadway and Regan Street, has been completed and is now waiting for the concrete to set. The “silent policeman” is a round dome of rein® forced concrete and when in position will be sunk in the roadway with the dome shaped top above the level of the street. Vehicles turning the corner will have to go round the “policeman” on their right side of the road. An electric light is placed in the interior of the dome and round port holes will give egress to the light at night time. The dome is heavily reinforced with iron stays and rings and there is a great deal of work involved in the making of one. When completed it should last for very many years. The large number of satisfied users of the Corona Portable Typewriter is the best advertisement the machine could have. It is ideal for secretaries, ministers and all business men. A special discount of ten per cent, off all machines is offered this month at Wilson Bros., Printers and Stationers, Stratford.