FIRE BRIGADE SOCIAL.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 18, 24 September 1898, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE SOCIAL.

"The social given by the Fire Brigade on •Thursday evening, in the Brigade station, was a very nice affair. About 30 couples were present.. The walls of the engine room were prettily decorated with evergreens, everything presenting a neat and tasteful appearance. About 8.30, dancing syas commenced to the music of Meyer's string band, and kept up till 10.30, when cupper was announced. This was laid in the upper, room, and was seryed in Mr J. Symons usual good style. .After supper, the^guests of the brigade recommenced dancing, and after the niember.3 liad finished supper, Captain Sinclair roae and said he was , sorry that some had been prevented from being present, but he hoped they would all spend a very enjoyable time. B[e would call on them to charge their glasses and drink to the toast of " The Queen." This was drunk .with enthusiasm. Song — Mr A. Philip. Mr Sinclair proposed " Tjbe Army, Navy and Volunteers,", coupled with the names •of Sergts. Jackson and Inkster. In replying to the toast, .Sergt. Jackson said he could not say much about the Army and Navy, The Waimate Volunteer corps held its own in shooting, and he .thought wotdd continue to do so. He dealled for three hearty cheers for Sir Kitchener in the Soudan.

Mr .Milsom proposed " Commercial Pursuits," coupled with the name of Mr Power. Speaking to the toast, Mr Milson said that the commercial spirit of the British race had brought the nation to the front. From the time of the whalers to the present they had in New Zealand a tribute to British pluck and endurance. Song— Mr R. Wills. Mr Power said -he was only a beginner in commercial pursuits, but as far as ,he could see commercial travellers had a good time of it. He thanked them for coupling his name with the toast. Mr Colville proposed the "Borough Council," coupled with the name of Councillor Sinclair. After & song by Mr Milsom, Mr Sinclair said he was sorry that through some mistake the Mayor was not present. Referring to the water supply, he thought the question had dropped. Ratepayers thought the rates they would have to pay would be too heavy. But things were getting better and the rate of interest on money lower, and perhaps something might be done in the near future. The Councillors had no power to move in the matter without the ratepayers' approval. No scheme would be good except the one that furnished motive power. "With that addition to the town new businesses were sure to start that could not otherwise pay. The land around was being cut up - and the population, of

Waimate was increasing- A water supply would reduce the rates and the rates of fire insurance. The Brigade was on a good footing with the Borough Council and things were workmg satisfactorily. As far as Waimate streets were concerned, they were among the best in the colony. He thanked them on behalf of the Borough Council. Mr Dean proposed " Industrial Pursuits," coupled with the name of Mr B. Wills. In responding, Mr Wills said things were a bit quiet at present. The land being cut up had helped business, and if they got a water-supply that would help too. Mr Sinclair proposed " The Licensed Victuallers," coupled with the names of Messrs Milsom and Middleton. They had then' own troubles as well as other people. He had a good deal to do with the publicans of Waimate, and they were as good a set of men as could be met. Keferring to the licensing laws, the speaker said they did not give things a proper trial. An Act was tried for a short time, and then something new brought forward. If they wanted to do away with the publichouses, do away with them all. Publicans did not force men to drink. The more publiohouses they had the better accommodation they would get. Mr Middleton said he had been 23 year* a publican, and had_carried on his business

..fairly successfully, until this prohibition " ihbvement started. This had depreciated their property 70 per cent. He did not think, with few exceptions, that any publican went to the dogs through drink. Did they not think that if a man put his money into a business he should get fair play. For himself, whenever he saw a man the worse of drink, he tried to stop him: It was Well known that a man could get drunk if he were prohibited. He could get it wholesale. There was no fair foundation to prohibition. By their action, Prohibitionists had brought the trade into disrepute, so that in the case of some hotels a respectable man would not ; take them up. There was a meeting that ' evening to take steps to assist the relations ■of a man who had died, and there was not a" Prohibitionist there. The parsons were losing their grasp on their congregations, ' and had to take to some lad to keep them together. Mr Milsom thought they should not turn this into a semi-political meeting, but it seemed that in New Zealand they "wanted to go ahead too fast. So many things had tended to support the Prohibi'tlon fad that in time to come the historian would say that the people were badly led by people of a very low mental capacity. He had studied the question a good deal, thought it was a scandalous injustice to men who had put their money in the trade. They boasted of their freedom, sbut5 but should such a state of things be permitted. The cure was worse than the ■disease, and New Zealand was net a country of drunkards. Drunkenness was not increasing. More liquor might be '-consumed in the last few years, but that was due to the increase in the population. In the whole of the electorate he did not think they would find 20 drunkards. The spirit of evolution was silently working in this social question. The public was ■quite capable of taking care of itself, and was adopting temperate habits, If legislation were left out of the question, it would be better. It was only from a •spirit of duty that he had taken up the trade, and was he to be turned out into the- cold. He was content to let the fad run its course, and meet the fate of all lads. Mr Boreham said he was a man of travel. He had had the disgust of being in Turkey, the most prohibition country in the world, and the Turks were the most •contemptible and beastly creatures on the -earth,- If the prohibition movement had done no good 1 to a race like that, why should the British race wish to take it upJ It had been said that drink was the cause (6f poverty, but he said poverty was the cause of drink. "Why did not the Prohibition go and help the fallen. He felt himself disgusted when he thought of those who tempted men to break the law. The whole thing was wrong from a moral point of view, because temptation was necessary to morality. If a. man was to be put'OUt of his -business he should be eompensftted.

Mr Sinclair proposed "The' Press," coupled with the names of Messrs ' Smith, Wilson, and Boreliam. All three responded, the last-named saying that the press should be supported. He did not want them to take his paper especially, but they should have some public print-in their houses. Mr Boreham proposed " The Waimate Fire Brigade," coupled with the names of Captain Sinclair and Lieut. Lane. In responding, Captain Sinclair aaid the Brigade had been in existence 21 years, and they had done their duty to the best of their ability, Although they had only limited means at their disposal. The insurance companies had withdrawn their yearly grant, and all they had was from the Borough Council. • They could canvass the town, but they did not believe in doing that. They had done their best, .and they would do it still. Mr Sinclair proposed •" The Ladies, 1 ' •coupled with the names of Messrs T. Goldstone And A. Jackson. „ Songs were sung by Messrs Donald, A. Philip and T. Goldstone. Captain Sinclair proposed " The Caterer and assistants, 1 ' responded to by Messrs" Symon and Donald. A vote of thanks to the chairman on the motion of 'Mr Edwards; seconded by- Mr Milsom, ended this part of .the proceedings. During the evening songs were sung by Messrs Wilce, R. Wills and A. Jackson. The dancing by this time had drawn- to a close, and all was over at 1.30. Mr Frank Drayton made a -capital M.C. A final cup of tea and the singhig of " Auld Lang Syne," brought a most harmonious leathering to a close.