CARTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1386, 23 May 1883, Page 3

CARTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

. A,, ; hepng was ..held Jn, the. Public ;|sj,, : Carterton, on Monday evening,.! with a' view of resuscitating the de-' ftroct Fh-e Brigade. A good' repressn'tativemeetingj numbering some seventy <Bettlers, including many with t,- large building stake in the town',' and several members of the old Brigade. Mr.W. Booth was .voted to the chair. The Chairman thought .that the expediency of having a well-organised band of men to meeYthe exigencies that-might arise in case of fire, would recognised by all, andthatthe supl . , port.of all settlers should be accorded to a body of that kind. .■', ImoW'much about the .wording of a -Fire Brigade, but should'be-' ready to , Afford, such assistance' as lay within his , v power secure the servicesm ahefficient :' <■'%. body of men on .coultj rely: ■l' need;aros'e.; He would ask the f" "' 'Secretary.ofthe late;Biigade,tb give tM'nieetuig..such■ ififorijiation as. he .j could'ae to ; its';ppsitioff when;the mem-1 ! j bers.'resigiied.. v ' ' /'H j .'.• I '■ . ■ Mr Bowles, captauVof; the old; Bri- . I !gade, stated 'that was .ireßtedih trustees, a : debVßtnVexiated| -on the engine, im.d-that they had 3s ,4d standing tb|heir credit at the, bank. * "The Chairman said thatif thent'oe^ ,'uig th^Brigadebeing ' tnpughf the miatter snoUd be taken 'up'oh.' a busm^like •garner. The land Bhouy..l»^ir|eyed - <M r#ic|i; tjho engine house' slod "and , property- ! ' ."(.hadipnly.beeJi wlthe-buiidrng onw and

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no chimney," but a'lible at' the' Sadie' where any one could get in or out,! and the interior unlined. He thought if '■ men gave their services, ran the risk of having to turn out at all houi-a, ;and incur tho chance of damage to thetnbolvos, and clotliing it'>was only jfair they should have .a ; comfortable room .to hold their business meetings in,; He thought that tho building should be completed, and a custodian.appointed j and ho had no fear. but that if \ the. matter was taken up in a proper, manner the cordial support of the public might bo relied on. To put the matter in a. tangible shape- before the meeting it might be as well: if. some goutlemau would move that a Cartertoil JEfire Brigade be formed. Mr Bowles here stated that the late Brigade hud collapsed through the want of support given by the settlersgenerally in the township, Mr R. H, Elliotte said to test the feeling of the meeting he would move, " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a Eire Brigade bo formed in Carterton." The Chairman intimated in calling for a show of hands that of course itwas understood that tho'so who supported the motion would hold them-' selves pledged to support the Brigade.' .Mr T. Q.Bennett asked if.those who voted for it found support were not generally given, if they pledged them" selves to carry it out? ', • The Chairman said of courao they could not expect the men who gave their time and services.also to provide, andcanvasforthe funds necessary to keep the Brigade on an efficient footing. If the undertaking was. not generally supported of course it would; fall to the ground, The Chairman on putting the motion, which had been duly seconded, to the meeting, said he saw seyoral had not held up their hands either way. Mr Parker—l did not hold up'my hand, Mr Chairman, but I'll give £\. The Chairman—Then I suppose we may take it that all who don't hold:up their hands will follow Mr Parker and give LI. Well, at any rate, I will give L 5. Mr Lindop stated that he had seen some ten or twelve of the tradesmen about the place who had all promised to contribute if tho Brigade was, formed. • . Mr Elliotts motion was then.put. tothemeeting and carried unanimously. Tim Chairman next suggested that ar Committee be appointed to obtain information ns to how matters stood with regard to the old Brigade, and to canvass the town to ascertain what support would be given if the Brigade wore re-organised. MrGole, as a member of the old Brigade, audits first secretary, said before such a motion was brought' before tho meeting he should like to stato its position' at the time the members resigned. He was only speaking from > recollection, but after, tho, first monies collected had been expended there was-an existing debt of about L 76. This, by subsequent donations, had been reduced to about L 57, for which the Brigade ivere still liable. The property of the Brigade had on its inauguration been' vested in Messrs Snodgrass, Hooker, and Pairbrothcr as trustees. Thelandhadbeengivenby Mr Hooker to the Brigade, but a transfer had been made to the Trustees. He thought the brigade had collapsed from, two causes; first, the insufficient support given by the public ; and next, the want of subordination to officers exhibited by some members of the brigade, and he thoughtif a new brigade were formed it would be advisable it be inconnection witli and under_ the supervision of the Local Board, who,' as the recognised governing body of the district, would have greater control than private individuals. He would move—That a committee consisting of the Chairmen of the Highway and Local Boards, and Messrs Elliotte, Kay, Hodgins, Gallie, Allen/Hooker, and White, as having large building risks in the township, be appointed a committee to carry out the. objects indicated by the Chairman. The.Chairman said of course they need not refer back to the past,' but discipline was a most essential point in any such organisation. t Mr Gallie seconded Mr Gole's motion pro forma. At the same time ho thought the committee was too large, ■that a smaller one would do the work more efficiently, and would propose as an amendment—That the. committee consist of Messrs Booth, White and Seed.. . The motion was seconded by Mr Bowles. The Chairman agreed with Mr Gallie as to a small committee being preferable, but asked that his nane might be omitted, owing to the many other calls on his time rendering it impossible to his being able to go about the district canvassing, Mr Gallie said if Mr Booth could not .cattvas still he might be able to gain information for their guidance, and assist them in other Ways. Mr Booth assented to his name remaining on the committee on these terms, and the names of Messrs Elliotte and Parker were also added to those proposed by Mr Gallie." Mr Gole then withdrew his motion in favor of Mr Gallie's' amendment, at the same time suggesting that the committee should seek, rather to secure'afi annual subscription from every settler, eyenifit were only 2s6d or ss, rather than press far immediate donations'. By this .means he believed an annual income. would.b'e secured that would be ampl? to keep thV brigade on an efficient footing. , v , .'lit Gallie's motion.; was then carried nem. con,, and the (committee, it was agreed, should report progress at a meeting to'be held on the 4th prox. I A'vote of thanks to the Chairmai terminated the business of the meeting! The members of the committee-then met, and divided the district intosufc I divisions, lor the'purpose ofcanvas. I