Fire Brigades' Anniversary.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3623, 6 August 1880, Page 2

Fire Brigades' Anniversary.

THE PROCESSION.

In accordance with their annual custom the Grahamstown and Shortland Fire Brigades celebrated their anniversary with a grand torchlight procession, and pyrotechnic display last night. The? firebells, engine sheds, and the principal edifices in the town were gaily decorated with bunting in honor of the occasion, and the spectacle was witnessed by some thousands of persons who thronged the route. At 6.30 the Grahamstown brigade with engine, hose reels, and all other appliances for fire-fighting, assembled at i their hall, and a few minutes later, with torches a-blaze, and headed by the fine band of the Thames Scottish Battalion, they marched towards Shortland. Here they were joined by their brothers inarms of Shortland, and the march continued to Butt's ■ corner, where a grand display of colored lights and rockets took place. On the return of the united brigades to Grahamstown, the principal portion of the pyrotechnic display eventuated a halt for thatpurpose being called at the Bank Corner. The i firemen who superintended the carrying out of this portion of the programme were evidently well up in their business, and all the spectators agreed that it had been most successful. Three cheers were then given, and tVe men after returning their paraphernalia to the shed adjourned to the Governor Bowen, where the

ANNIVERSARY DINNER was held.' Mr McGowan occupied the Chair, and the Vice-Chairmen were Superintendents Price apd Hollis. The following s citizens were -also present :—-Messrs Renshaw', Angove, Grigg, Clopnan, Wilkinson, Osborne, Buttle, Fire In> spector Price and Major Murray. The dinner was most recherche, being got up in Host Symington's best style, and was done ample justice to by the diners.

" The Queen," "Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," from the Chair, were well received.

The Chairman in proposing the health of " His Excellency the Go?ernor " said that they all respected him as a gentleman who would uphold his own credit and that of Her Majesty. The colony was now passing through , a financial crisis, and no doubt before the present Governor's term had expired there would be an improvement. , Song, {secretary Basham, " Brave old Oak." Mr Superintendent Price, in proposing the '-'Army, Navy, and Volunteers," alluded to the services of all three branches of the service.

Major Murray, io responding said it would not be good taste on his part saying much about the Army and Navy: the record of their services for the past few centuries' showed what they were capable of. - All wefee deeply interested at the time when our troops were concentrating at Malta and Gibraltar, and the British fleet in JBesika Bay, ready-to fly at the Great Bear of the north should Britain's interest be jeopardised. A , great interest had also' been taken in the Zulu and Afghanistan wars, and: when news' of a disaster to our army armed it was keenly felt by every right thinking man'and woman in the colonies., ■ They all hoped the day would come when, there ;would' bef "no more armies, but. thesfe could not be dispensed with while I were so^ njany despots in the world, and iso many,<arme.d camps, in Europe. The ' Volunteers were of the same stamp and i material, and he had no doubt but that they would creditably acquit themselves if called upon. ■He again thanked them 1 for the hearty manner in which the toast 1 had beeii drunk.

- Song, Fireman Coutts, "Am Dear Nelli" . Mr Superintendent Hollis, in proposing " The Local Governing Bodies,' referred to the excellence of the British local governing institutions, to which he ascribrd in a great measure their unequalled, civil, religious, ,and political liberty. Their own local bodies had never done anything discreditable, and though unfortunately the state of their finances were sometimes not good, they ' managed to get ont of their difficulties. Drunk with cheers. * . The toast was, responded- to by the Chairman and Messrs Osborne and Wilkinson. Mr Osborne said that the greatest shortcoming of the local l>6dy he bad the honor to belong to was a shortcoming of cash. Mr Wiikinsou briefly referred to the proposed legislation, which would probably have the effect of increasing the revenue of the biigades. Mr A. Price proposed " The Fire Insurance Companies," who, he said, required to be stroked down' with"'one' 1 hand and up with .the other—that was, as far as the Brigades were concerned. He i would like to see them treat them more liberally than in the past.' Mr Buttle in responding pointed out that where brigades were well equipped and trained the people would have reduced premiuns from t!te Insurance Companies, and the reduction in the tariff had been so great that very .few companies had been able to pay, dividends. , Mr Osborne, gave " The district Fire Inspectors (Messrs A. Price and C. Curtis)," referred briefly to their valuable services. Drank with musical honors.

Mr Price responded, expressing great pleasure at meeting the Brigades at any time/ but especially on an occasion like the present. Captain Pearce in proposing " Visitors and Hon. Members" spoke & 'the liberality with which the latter supported the brigades. Secretary Basham apologised for the absence of Messrs J. E. Macdonald, G. P. Pierce,' Suprintendent Hughes, of Auck land, and Mr Sub-Inspector Kenny. The Chairman apologised for His Worship the Mayor and Mr McCullough.

Mr, Itenshaw, in responding to the vtojisti.read -the followic™ repoi-t :— The Thames Fire Brigades hare''the honor this evening of laying before yourselves and the public the following report, and thej do bo for two reasons, the first being from a sense of duty to the Borough Council and (hose gentlemen who hare contributed towards the maintenance of the brigades, and the second from a feeling of obligation to them* selves:—This is (he eighth occasion upon which their anniversary had been held, and it may not be out of place to remark that the Shortland Brigade was enrolled in July 1872, with 25 members on the roll; and the Grahamstown Brigade on August Sth, 1872, with 24 members, the present effective force being, Grahamstown Brigade, 33 memb<>rr and three officers; Shortland Brigade, 25 men and three officers. The brigades were first supported by voluntary subscriptions from the inhabitants, and donations- in aid from the* Highway District Boards, but when municipal institutions were established the brigades then came under the direct control of the Borough Council, who have to the extent of their ability supplied the manifold wants in connection with the necessary ap pliances of the brigades, and the uniforms of their members. The efficiency or the brigades and the water supply in the township hare been the means of reducing the rates of insurance, and bringing the brigades uuder the favorable notice of the associated insurance companies, who have for several years past contributed* the sum of fifty pounds sterling towards their iunds. This together with the liberal support of the inhabitants generally enabled the brigades to supply their engine rooms with newspapers and books, and provide some little assistance to members in case of affliction or accident, 25 per cent, of the Grahamstown brigade fund being df,voted by them to that purpose. The services of the offiren and men are entirely -voluntary, and from this cause, and influenced by a very just idea that they were entitled ri the same recognition from the : Government as other Volunteers, the conception of forming a United Fire Brigades' Association originated. The Association was formed, and through its instrumentality a bill is now before the Colonial Legislature which, ..when passed, will give the Fire Brigade? of the colony a standing they never possessed before, and we trust a similar recognition of services rendered. During the past year 15 alarms of fire were sounded, and . on all and every occasion the. brigades mus- ; tered almost to a man, and they are quite satisfied to accept the verdict of their fellowicitizens as to the manner in which officers and' men performed their duty' on these occasions. It -is nevertheless much to be re* ' gretted that large and valuable propertiej in Shortland are exposed—should a fire orcur^;to the certainty of destruction from,; an ; inadequate supply of- water, and the v brigades suffer the mortification of being unable to ; bring more than half of their excellent ap- ; plianors into use from the sam 4 .cause. The . inefficiency of this supply also greatly increases the risk ta the firemen, and also doubles their labour. The officers and firemen of the Thames Brigades thankfully acknowledge their indebtedness to the kindness and consideration of the inhabitants, and to the - assistance on all or asions rendered to them I by the Cubrlnspector of the .A.0., and the men under his ommand.—o/ Ahiib, Secrc-

t&tf 8.V.F.8., Geobgb Bhw*, Sccretaiy 0.T.F.8. . . Song: Fireman Wright, "The hot Asphalt." , ; The toast of the officers and members of the Brigades was acknowledged by the Superintendents and by Capt. Pearce.- : Songs by Firemen Mitchell, Browjlbw, and Harris followed, and were well received. The toasts of."The Chairman,".,".The Ladies," "Host and Mrs Symington" and " The Press " followed, and.the merry party broke up about midnight, all baring heartily enjoyed themselves.