Fire Brigade Presentation to Superintendent Modonald.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2972, 24 August 1878, Page 3

Fire Brigade Presentation to Superintendent Modonald.

The usual weekly meeting of the Shortland contingent Borough Fire Brigade was held at the station last night. Owing to the inclemency of the weather the members did not turn out for practice, but there was a muster of about twenty men, and some financial business to transact. There were present Superintendent Macdonald, Captain McLaughlin, ExSuperintendent J..8u1l and others. After the transaction of the ordinary business, Superintendent Macdonald addressed the firemen. He said he had to announce

that that would probably be the last occasion he would have of speaking to them in his capacity as Superintendent, and he wished to take that opportunity of thanking them for the support they had ac\"corded to him in carrying out the duties appertaining to the office. He was leaving as most of them knew, for another place, and his connection with the Shortland Fire Brigade had been such as to make it a matter of, regret to sever that connection; but, as it was, he could only ' nay that he parted from them with regret, and hoped they would secure a more efficient officer. Ex-Superintendent Bull then rose, and, speaking for the officers ' and firemen, said they all felt sorry that Superintendent Macdonald was about to leave. During his (Mr Macdonald's) connection with the brigade he had done his duty in such a way as to make his departure and the eeveranco of the connection between them a matter for deep regret. Under all circumstances he (Mr Macdonald) had retained the confidence and support of the Brigade, and . it would be a difficult matter to fill his place. They had heard of Superintendent Macdonald's departure, or contemplated departure from amongst them from other .sources, and the firemen who had served under him had determined that lie should, not leave without some token of the esteem in which be was held by the men under his command. They- had arranged for a photographic shield with the station in a prominent place, but unfortunately, owing to the prevailing bad weather, this had not been completed. Xhey had, however, procured a gold whistle, made of Thames gold, which he (Ex-Superintendent Bull) ' had much pleasure in presenting, while the shield would be forwarded as soon as completed. The whistle (made by Mr Cookson, Brown street) was then handed to Mr Macdonald. It was tastefully engraved with the following inscription : . "S.V.F.B. to J. E. Macdonald." Mr Superintendent Macdonald, in acknowledging the presentation, said he was glad to find that his efforts had been appreciated —efforts made, not so much on their - behalf, but in the service of the public, in which each was as good as himself. It would be impossible for a superintendent to do much good without good men. He could not but say that the way his re* marks had been received, and the present they had made pleased him exceedingly. Officers and men had endeavoured to and

succeeded in pulling well together, being actuated by the same motive, the public good, as citizens. He, as having a small . stake in the place, could say that the public were under obligations to the firemen for their voluntary services, and he knew that the public were alive to the value of their services as shown by the crucial test of going round for subscriptions. When fie had gone with a list in his hands the clouds had been dissolved when he mentioned the fire brigade, as the answer had been "Ob, that's all right." He could only once more express his gratification at the way they had evinced their opinion of his services, and for the presentation they had made him. (Apr pause.) Captain McLaugblin, while expressing regret at Superintendent Macdonald's resignation, said he did know how they could find a successor. After some complimentary remarks from the members of the Brigade, the meeting was adjourned, and subsequently the members went to Host Garrett's, where healths were drunk, all expressing regret at Mr Macdonald's departure.