MASTERTON VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2139, 6 November 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

In consequence qf the Fire Brigade haying disbaiitjef}, ft con]iijiijtQo"q'f "jijjq" Bqrongl] Council was appointed to organise a new Brigade, and a meeting was held last night at the Brigade Station far the purpose of enrolling members. The meeting was called by advertisement, to which the members of the late Brigade were specially invited. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and was supported by Crs Mason, Muir, and Perry. The' Town Clerk was also present to take .minutes qf the forty : persons "'were present the old Brigade heing strqng|y representee]. TRe Mqyqr read' th« a(fvet'fcjs,euieut calling the noting, and regretted tho notice had been so short, but said it was of the utmost importance that some organisation should be formed without delay for tl|e prqtertiqi] qf lifqand property jn the event of 'tires tiding plaoe. He stated tlie action the Council had taken in tho mutter. Tlioy had appointed a committeo to. deal with the question, and that committee had met and passed certain resolutions, which would no doubt receive the approval of the Qont]cll as a whole, Tho committee ha<j reaqlvcd'to nail tha|; meeting for the purpose stated ; to promise the Brigade that'the Council would provide _ the necessary hose and appllanoos required, and would in future vote a sum to tho incidental fund, That a standing Committee of tho Council would be appointed as a Committee of Ways and Means, with whom the Brigade would deal direct for and thjs Oqmmlttee \yqnid snppqrtlhem in pqipi'cjl. 'T|ie' Mayor ajluded to tho public-spirited manner in wWoh Mr Macara had.tjaiqe fflstyawj withau offer tq advance money tq purchase a fire engine, should tho Counoil decide upon procuring one, A public meeting would be called to consider the question of a high pressure water supply, or that of a steam fire engine, in the event of a' water supply scheme not being favorably' yqpeiyefl, Several questions were asikel and answered, and' a long discussion took plage, The Mayor then invited those willing to volunteer to undertake the duties of firemen to give in their names, The old members hung fire for a long time until the ico was broken by oxFireman Mansell giving in his name, He was followed by some -.ten or twelvo others, but there still" appeared to be a feeling amongst some of the ex-firemen that .there was not a sufficient definition of wlwt tile iritentiops pf ti)e Council were fqr the future, anif several tried to get a positive assurance from the Mayor that the Council would carry out the promises made by him.

His Worship said he had not tho power to absolutely promise all he had stated, but he was fcertain that a majority of the Council would adopt the action of the Committee. He had no doubt the offer of Mr Macara would be accepted, and the Council woqty qbtajn a steam fire engine. Clr Mqir fiaiq befqro the Committee pledged itself to get a steam engine thoy should endeavor to obtain a sanction to n loan for a wator supply. It was all very well to Bay that eonsont could not be obtained—the questionhad not been asked yet. The same had been said of the gas loan. The sum estimated by the Engineer as required for a water supply was £7.000, and even if the whole of the £IO,OOO authorised for the gas loan should be taken vjp father. WoqH UQfc increase tl]e Borough rates hy more than Is in the £, putting aside the value it would be in case of fires, and the convenience to the town for domestic use. There was the question of water motors which would quickly come into use and recoup the interests on the loan. Mr Easthope asked' if they were to understand tfyat fclie question TOl# ptial-. tively submitted to a public meeting, ' The Mayor said it was his intention to give'notice in Council to move that , a public meeting be called."'The sense of the meeting would be taken, and if favorable to a water scheme the vote of the ratepayers would be taken upon it. ' At 'any rate, that would take up two months time if tho meeting decided n favor, qf a water supply, and if gainst it, thon the offer of Mr Macara

could be taken advantage of, and a fire engine obtained. Whatever happened, the : Brigade would get all it required ili the, meantime, and he regretted Secretary Easthope should pse terms that implied the Council would not carry out what he had promised. . Ex-Secretary Easthope said lie used the words because of past, experience That was the fourth time that they had asked for a steam 'fire engine, and tre6n~ bluffed off. The water supply scheme was dragged across the scent, and he .thought this might have been a similar attempt; but as he understood the . ques-. tion wss going at once before the ratepayers, he would withdraw his wards. The Mayor asked to be allowed to put the last speaker right, He could only promise to move in Council in tho matter, but ] udging from the feeling of Councillors > he thought it would be done; if not theja would accept Mr Macara's offer and get* 1 a steam fire engine. Mr Easthope said they had, he thought, got about as much out of the Council as they would get, and they were content. Fireman Morris said he was gliiSfftp'see Cr Muir was going to take the captaincy again, He would liko to see some other • Councillor also take office The Brigade lmd never woi-kaHro. well together since Captain Muir lcsttlhem.

Cr .Muir said it was his intention to take tho captaincy of the Brigade only until the new Brigade elected its own officers, Ho had consented to that much from a sense of duty, and thought ho to deserving of a spell after six years of duty. Secretary Easthope then moved, That the resolution passed by the'Masterton Volunteer Fire Brigade be rescinded, and that they 'at once resume duty. Fireman Mansell seconded, and the resolution was carried by the old Brigade unanimously.

Captain Keester said he would belong to the Brigade as a member so long as he was in Masterton, anc\ if Or Muir would take the lead, the old members would join and. stick together as of old, They' did not want payment, but they wanted funds to entertain competitors from other * distriots when they visited Masterton, in t 1 return for the way they were treated. in A other places. He thought the Cou.ncil should provide all gear and appliances, and all private monies and dojwtvw.s should go to the Members' .fund for the object just stated, and similar expenditure. Ho would like to see the Council supply a good lot of hose and extra couplings, as these would'couio in eitllW for' the steam high pre&ip. He blamed the outside public for % done at the late fire in running i\\yay with, and mixing the couplings, fl alhvere aiike, such compilations cquld pot ocqr. Mr- Jiftsthope pajd a high compliment to tllQ ability of Or Mijir as a captain of firemen. He said ii was very difficult to obtain the servioes of men adapted to.fill such a position. Or Muir said lie had other public duties to perform now, which took up a deal of his time; and he was grateful for the kind expressions used. He would like to see the public generally taking a more kindly interest in the affairs of the Brigade. They had a greal deal of pecuniary aid frgjij several and there they Hq tip njen 'niore. interest iake'jj lii tfyeii: movements, and %t' tl\eip wants not be left unknown wntjl some bjg eyenj) such the present ung a litroiight then\ to ' .jaffl 4 vote Qf t!vii]!fs'tq Chairman qqjwH (ili|de(l tl|e meetjng.