FIRE BRIGADE YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 9

FIRE BRIGADE YEAR

SUCCESS AT WAVERLEY . The annual meeting of the Waverley volunteer fire brigade was held in the brigade rooms. Superintendent Millan welcomed a large attendance. The annual report recorded a substantial credit balance and thanked the Waverley Town Board for its grant of £10 and the business people and householders for their generous response to the subscription list. The Waverley Town Board gave considerate treatment to requests and courtesy was extended to members of deputations. Mr. F. , Taunton was thanked for keeping the fire engine m good repair free of charge. The engine had proved very reliable and was in first-class mechanical order. On one occasion benzine was removed from the engine by some person or persons unknown. , . ,, The brigade had two fires during the year. The first was in a shed at the rear of premises occupied by Mr. G. Bosher. It was a particularly difficult fire to extinguish, although the brigade had it under control within a few minutes. Heavy- ivy growth rendered it imnossible to get at the actual seat of the fire, and the members were eventually forced to use a lorry and cable to haul the matted growth clear. The sec- | ond fire, just outside the town bound- ; ary at 2 a.m., was a power pole which had ignited as the result of a large condenser connected to the power lines exploding. Every foot of hose in the possession of the brigade was in use on that occasion. The brigade had had extinguishers on order for some time, but had been unable to procure them owing to the war conditions. Recfent information indicated an early delivery. ■ The brigade was represented at the New Zealand dernonstration at Petone. Although not in the prize money, the team put up creditable performances and much valuable information was gained. At the New Zealand conference the same week 'the brigade was represented by Foreman Powell, and at the conference papers on the hazards of electricity relating to the fire service were submitted by Foreman Powell and Deputy-Superm-tendent Appleton. The brigade was also represented at New Plymouth and again, although unsuccessful, proved that members were becoming more efficient. Deputy-Superintendent Appleton acted as delegate at the Taranaki Fire Brigades' Association conference at New Plymouth and was elected to the executive, holding the position of senior vice-president. The report thanked Superintendent Coad, Patea, for his trophy for competition among Waverley members, and Mr. Maule, Patea, for his trophy for competition between the Patea and Waverley brigades.. . , , , The report thanked members for .making tables and seats, for electrical work connected With the .heating points and for the manufacture of an electric urn. The brigade was indebted to the women who worked tirelessjy in making social gatherings . pleasant. Three members resigned during the year, two left the district, three were struck off the roll for non-attendance and five new members joined, leaving the strength at ten. The president personally thanked all officers and members for their good conduct and attention to business during the year, and particularly congratulated the newer members on their uhtiring efforts to become efficient. To indicate the desire of the members to become efficient, he said there were 47 practices during the year. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £16 8s lld, an increase of approximately £4 on the previous year. The balance of assets over liabilities was £105 4s lld, an increase of £17. Mr. F. Cunningham on behalf of the Waverley Town Board, presented a three years* service certificate to Foreman Powell and the Coad Challenge Cup, for the four-men squad drill, to DeputySuperintendent Appleton as captain of the winning team, Deputy-Superintend-ent Appleton, Firemen Sattler, Milne and Cunningham, each of whom received a silver button. Mr. F. Cunningham installed the following as the officers of the brigade for the ensuing year: Superintendent, Mr. F. J. Appleton; depUty-superintendent, Mr. A. W. Millar; foreman, Fireman, G. Milne; secretary, Fireman W. H. Powell. Mr. C. H. Carey, past-president of the United Fire Brigades* Association, and two gold star holders, Fireman C. H. Carey and ex-Fireman R. Willis, Patea, were also present. Messrs. Cunningham Bros. offered a trophy valued at £5 5s for competition among the brigade members and left the details of the events in the hands of Superintendent Appleton and Mr. Powell. Mr. Carey congratulated the superintendent and secretary on the able papers they submitted to the conference at Petone, and stated that they had received favourable comment from the executive. Donations were received from Mr. F. Parkinson £2 2s and Mr. P. Duffy £1. Toasts honoured were: U.F.B.A., T.D.U.F.B.A., Waverley Town Board, Waverley fire brigade, Gold Star Holders, Donors of Trophies,' Visiting Firemen, the Ladies and the Press. Items were given as follows: Mr. A. Gilmore (piano), Mr. C. H. Carey (humorous item), Mr. R. Willis and Fireman Cunningham (songs).