HOKITIKA VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

West Coast Times, Issue 149, 10 March 1866, Page 2

HOKITIKA VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Tbo monthly meeting of tho members of this Brigado was hold on Monday night at tho Harp of Erin Hotel, the attendanco afc whioh was moagro, as but 17 out of 50 members mado their appearance. Tho business was commenced by Mr MacMariano roading tho minutes of tho previous mooting, tho adoption of whioh was proposed by Mr Thompson, seconded by Mr Dyer and carried. Mv Millavd, tho Captain of tho Bvigado, thon road tho covrospondonco 5 ono lettev from Dunodin relative to scarlet flannel, whioh is to arrivo in a fortnight and at onco bo mado into shirts, and tho other from Mr Olaxton of Ballavat, slating that tho carriage was already shipped in the Alma, and that the othor apparatus would bo fovwavded immediately. Mr Maefarlano informod tho mooting that ho had recoived a private letter from Mr Olaxton of Ballnr.it, whereby ho wns told that Messrs Sponoo Brothers had causod tho delay by ondoavoring to purohaso tho apparatus in Melbourne- instead of Bonding to Bnllarat where it could bo mado undor tho immediate inspection of Mr Claxton. Mv Millavd said that ho had muoh ploasuro in informing tho mooting that Mr Sale had granted a pioeo of land 20 feet by 60 foot, noxt to tho Assay Ofllco in the Camp Resorvo, which land would givo them 20 foot afc tho back of tho building for a boll tower, as tho building was to take up tho frontago of 20 foot and a dopth of 40 feet, and to bo 24 feet in height. He would also stato that as coon as tho building wns commenced the grant of monoyfrom tho Govornmont could bo obtained. 110 would now submit to tho mooting a plan of tho proposod building, whioh would cost from £260 to £800, drama by Mr Smith, the arohiteot, for thoir inspection. Mr Maofarlano said thafc the building was not, in his opinion, high ouough, according to tho plan submitted, as tho ongino house would bo but nine- foot high, and tho upper room for mooting but about sovon feot six inohos in hoight, and ho would propose thafc the plan bo adopted with ono alteration, whioh waa aniuoroaso of elevation of the building by four foot. Mr Coopor seconded the proposition, whioh was oamod. Mr Millard thon distributed tho badges, whioh are of black glazed leather, with the lotters H.V.F.B. and a numbor underneath, painted white. Tho badgos aro fastened to the left arm of oaoh mombor by a strap. Mr Horn proposod that, as th» carnage wns likely to amvo in a few days Mr Mjllnvd

should be ompoworod to call tenders, at onco, for tho erection of an engine room. Mr Ecclosfiold secondod the motion, which wrs carried. MrMillard thon preson tod accounts amounting to £9 6s 6d for badges, books and bollring, tho passing of which was proposed by Mr Hudson and carriod. Tho admission of tho following gontlomon as mombors was thon ballottcd for, aud each was duly olootod. Thoir names are J. Valentino, Donaldson, Sousted, Bailoy, Casey and T. Ecclesfield. Mr Hobbes was thon proposed, and election by ballot will tako place at tho next monthly mooting. Tho vosignations of Messrs Findlator, Moany, and M.Cullooh woro thon road, and Mr Hudson having proposed that these resignations bo accopted, which Mr Dyer secondod, tho proposition was carried. The olection of Mr Coopor as a member of tho committee iv tho stead of Mr MacCullooh, rosignod, having thon taken placo, and tho roll callod, aud monthly subscriptions collected, tho meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to tho captain of tho brigade, who occupied tho ohair.