MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2121, 16 October 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

A LIVELY MEETING.

The members of the Masterton Fire Brigade held a meeting on Wednesday night to consider their position, financially, as well as with regards to the comments made as to the work they did at the late fire attheMessrsHoodandShaw's stables. There was a full attendance.

Captain Keester, who presided, said the fact was they had just been public slaves, and neither the public nor the papers gave them credit for what they did. Their position was thoroughly unsatisfactory, and the Brigade should be altogether re-organised, either by the Borough Council or in some other way. They must either have a new engine or a better water supply. Replying to a question by Mr Hoar, engine-keeper, the Chairman stated that if they took the amounts still owing for pumping at the last two fires, and other accounts, they would be in debt about £SO. Mr Easthope (lion Secretary) said they should grin and bear no longer. For seven long years they had been striving to make a good Brigade, and the public had not helped them. They had absolutely no assistance, If they applied to the Borough Council tliey were simply looked upon as if they were robbers; the Town Lands Trustees simply laughed at them, and if they went for a subscription to a private house, they had to be thankful if the dog was not set upon them (hear, hear, and laughter). Thoy should ask the Finance Committee to get the Borough Council to take over all their plant and liabilities. If the Council did not do so they could sell everything—he believed even the lease of the building in which they were meeting. The Brigade was in debt, and the state in which it was, was a disgrace to the place. He asked any of them whether the Borough Council had ever done anything to put them on proper footing. The only answer would be "No." Unless they were at once put on a proper footing they should resign in a body (Hear, hear.) It soemed to be the general opinion among them that they should resign.

Fireman Geo. Dixon thought Mr Easthope had gone a little too far. He forgot that the Council supported them, and that they were a volunteer brigade; also that all they had did not belong to the Council.

Mr Easthope said at Ashburton, which was a much smaller place, the Council had supplied the brigade with a steam fire engine, and subscribed £IOO per annum, while the Council here subscribed only £3O. He moved: "That this Brigade, having painfully experienced, at the late fire m Bannister street, the utter inefficiency of its appliances, and having no hope of obtaining better, hereby resolves to disband." Seconded by Fireman Hoar, Fireman G. Dixon moved as an amendment "That the Brigade goon as before, and apply to the Finance Committee for better appliances." Seconded by Fireman W. Dixon. Mr Easthope explained that they had applied to the Finance Committee for a steam fire engine more than six months ago, and lie did not believe that that Committee had met since then. At any rate, they did not receive an answer. The Brigade had been blamed in the Star for having two sizes of hose. That was most cruel, If they had their choice they would only have the one, but it was their utter poverty that compelled them to use the two,

The Chairman said they were compelled to beg everything, even the timber for the bell tower, and the station in which they were meeting, They should do nothing now unless they were on a much better footing. He admitted that there had been some irregularities at the late fire, but tliey had only occurred through the outside public hindering them and mixing the hoses, The Brigade had, however, done good service, and only for them half nf Masterton would have been burnt down many a time. It was no use looking to the Insurance Companies for support; y6t they expected them to turn out at their call, at any time, and all for nothing, They even wanted them to put out embers, In reply to Fireman Hoar, the Chairman said that if they resigned, any of them could join a new brigade, supposing one was formed. A brigade was a necessity to Mastortun,

The amendment was then put and lost, The resolution was carried, only three voting against it,

Mr Eastliope moved " That the FinanceCommittee be asked to meet on Monday next, and that the whole of the plant be offered to the Council, on condition that thoy liquidate all their liabilities,"

Fireman G. Dixon seconded. The resolution was carried, _ Mr moved a further resolution, "That if the Council refuse the offer made, the plant be sold by public auction to liquidate their 1 iabilitieß.'' They would find quite enough customers in the district, He had even been told that a new brigade was in oourse of formation in Masterton by Mr Hornblow (Loud laughter),

The resolution was seconded by Fireman Thompson and carried. Some discussion took place as to the time at which the Brigade should disband, and it was resolved to meet again for that purpose in a week. The meeting then terminated,