Fire Brigade. ANNUAL MEETING.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 30, 9 August 1900, Page 2

Fire Brigade. ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the l?ir* Brigade was 'held on Tuesday evening, Captain Sinclair presiding over a large muster. The ohairnaaa took that occasion of thanking the brigade for the way they had worked *t the late fire. {Labouring under difficulties, as they Were, no brigade oould have Worked better, Had the Borough Co«ncil acceded to the request of the brigade made some years ago, to place a tank at the cornet t of Leonard and Queen streets, water * couia have been brought to the fire muoh sooner. He hoped the coua<s would consider the question now, as in the event of a big fire in iho centre of the town, water oould not '^be .gdft at a reasonable distance. , Mr E. E. Boyd sent a cheque ot £2 8s to the brigade's funds, as a recognition of the excellent work of tha brigade in sating his property. Tha amount was received with thankß, and Mr Boyd is to -be written to, to that effect. -> A % letter was received from the Oamavu Fire Brigade, inviting the officers and members of this brigade to a fancy dross ball on August 18tb. Several members expressed theit intention of attending. Lieutenant Colville was appointed with the secretary to draw up a balance sheet before next meeting. It was resolved to present Lieutenant Colrille with a medal for five years'* Bervico with the brigade. Fireman Reeve tendered his resignation, owing to his inability to turn out to fires on aooount of ill-health. He was granted three months' leave of absence from atftire work with the briga-cta. Messenger L. Reeve was elected A fireman. Accounts amounting 10 XI 9s 55 were passed for payment. The election of officers Was proceeded with. Lieutenant Colville proposed that Captain Sinclair be Te-elected. He the captain's perfomiauca of the duties, and declared him an old and valued member of the brigade* This was seconded by Foreman Wilsoa and carried unanimously. The other officers were elected *s follows; — Lieutenant, Mr A. ColviHe (re-elected) ; senior foreman, Mr G. Wilson ; foreman of the hose, Mt N. Mines ; branchmen, Messrs E. £>resland and A. Berry ; treasurer, Captaitt Sinclair (re-elected)^ 'iecretary anS caretaker, Mr D. Watts (re-elected)* messenger, Master L. SincUi*. All the officers returned thanks fot their election. Captain Sinclair declared the past year to have been a most prosperous on©. Tha number of young members joining had been very encouraging, especially as they turned up regularly to practice, and took a great interest in the brigade. He hoped nett year would shew a rimilut state of affairs. Lieutenant Colville brought op the matter of the annual social. He thought it would be to the interests ol *he brigade to forego this. They had no uniforms and very limited funds, and it was better to pat what money they couid spare into uniforms than into a social. It was not right that men had to wear their own clothes at a fire and stand the chance of getting them spoiled. Captain Sinclair agreed with Lieut. ColTilte. It was too bad that the insurance companies refused a subsidy to the brigade, who, of %b*ir own free | will, saved the companies money. They had to depend entirely on the generosity of tha Borough Council and fortunately tha council was very good to them. The present uniforms were got 20 years af o, and were quite worn out. A discussion followed, the outcome of which was to leave the matter in the hands of the officers to work up fttt entertainment for the purpose of getting new uniforms. Lieutenant Colville and the secretary were appointed to meet the trustees &t thefc annual inspection. It was deefded to approach the insurance companies to grant some* thing to the brigade. Mr H. Bishop was elected a member of the brigade,, and the meeting terminated*