MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2085, 3 September 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

The annual meeting of the Mastertoii Fire Brigade was held at the engim station last night, Mr J. Muir occupying the chair. The business to be transacted was proceeded by a spread, and that having been disposed of, the. Secretary, Mr W, M. Basthope, read the minutes o f the previous meeting the correspondent outwards and inwards, and the following annual report Mastkrton, September 2 1885, I have the honor to voport that tlu Masterton Volunteer Fire Brigade' ha: just completed its seventh year of exist ence, During the past twelve months th, attendance of officers and men has beei regular and punctual, • On the 4b occassion3 the Brigade has been called together, Foreman Morris heads the list, having been present 44 times at roll call. Engine-Keeper Boar is next with 4. attendances, and Captain Keester is nex' with 41. The 46 meetings of the Brigade are divided as follows3o practices ant meeting, 14 chimney fires and two fires. The two fires which occurred during thi twelvemonth, were neither very serious ones. On the 25th October, iBB4, th Waipoua Brewery caug t fire, and became a total loss, though some of the outbuildings were saved, and on the 21si January 1885, fire was discovered ii Wyeth's boot shop. Before the alarm could be given the fire had obtained a firm hold, and efforts were principally directed to saving adjoining premises, These were successful in the case of M Pickering's shop and house, but Mr Bradford's house aad shop caught in spite of every effort, and was burnt down. These premises being situated a long dis tance from water, it was necessary to puuij from ono engine to tlio other, sothatonl one jet could be brought to bear on tin fire. The money matters of the Krigadbeing in the hands of the Finance Com mittee, it is unnecessary to say mud about them here, except that there is at present an overdraft of £0 10s 2d, IV meet this there is due by the South British Insurance Company a sum of £1; for pumping at the fire, and the annua: subscriptions are also due, say, about £4O. It will be necessary for tinFinance Committee about to' b elected to provide some new plant. Some now hose is urgently required, n. also a hose reel, and other appliances Efforts were made during the past year ti raise money for a steam fire-engine bu unsuccessfully. It is hoped the incomin Finance Committee will take this matte, in hand. A new and much heavier be! was procured and hung in the old bell towor, and timber has been promised fo the erection of another tower m which t hamr the old bell. The new bell has no proved so satisfactory as was expected but it-is. hoped that when both bells aiv hung thev will prove to be sufficient, li 1 January last the Brigade sent'a team o five men to Dunedin, to take part-in thi Firo Brigades Demonstration. The team took third prize in the engine competition, and two members of it took prizes in other events, There ware 22 competing brigades represented, and Masterton may be proud that its Brigade was able to take such an honorable position against the flower of New Zealand. Four members of the Brigade, viz,, Captain Keester. Lieutenant T. Dixon, SeoretaryEasthope.' and Fireman Langley having completed seven years service, are now entitled to a clasp to wear with the long aervict medals presented to them two years ago. Tho strength of the Brigade has somewhat fallen off during the last few months. There are now oaly twenty members of all ranks, and it is desirable -that effort* should be made to increase tho membership to thirty. W. M. Easthope, .Secretary. ■ The report was adopted, The balance sheet showed that then was an overdraft of £6loa 2d.

The following officers wera elected far the ensuing year:—Captain, W. Kuester Lieutenant, W. Morris, Foreman, W, Peacock, Secretary, W, M, Easthope. Committee, Messrs Payton, Muir, Hogg. Eagthope, Bacon, J. Williams, Wiokersjn, Keester and Sellar. A Bmall account arising out of the annual ball was pasaoa for payment. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Easthope for his seven years'service, and to the three other members .of similar standing. Similar compliments were paid to Mr Muir for. his presence and services, and to the officers of the previous year. Several new members were elected, The meeting then olosed.