MASTERTON VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2211, 4 February 1886, Page 2

MASTERTON VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

RECEPTION OF THE TEAM,

The Masterton Volunteer Fire Brigade held a special meeting last night at the Brigade Station to receive the report of the delegate and team on their return 1 from the annual competition of Fire Brigades held at Napier on the 28th arid 29th of January. Captain Peacock occupied the chair, supported by Fire Inspector Muir, and ex-Captain, Keester. Before business was proceeded with, the Brigade partook of a collation prepared by the Brigade, as a welcome to the toam. After thorough justico had been done to the repast, the tables were cleared, and the business of the evening entered into. Captain Peacock in a neat and appropriate speech proposed the health of the team and delegate, to which Lieut. Ewingtoi. responded oil behalf of the team.

Foreman Mansell, delegate, reported that he attendod the meeting of the United Fire Brigade's Association held in Napier on the 25th and 29th January in accordance with the instructions of tho Brigade. There were thirty-ona delegates present representing Fire Brigades from all parts of New Zealand,, The Secretary, Captain Robertson, read the report and balance sheet. The latter showed receipts for the year amounting to £134 lis od, with an expenditure of £IOO lis sd, leaving a balanoe in hand of £3O 0s 4d, The following is the report I have the honor to present the seventh annual report of the association, dating from January 28th, 1880. At the last meeting, held in Dunedin, 24 brigades weie represented by 34 delegates. To-day I have great pleasure in putting before you applications from three brigades desiring to join the association—Greytown, Gisborne, and Hastings. 'As they have complied with the rules and paid subscriptions, it is now for you to say whether they shall become members or not. The Marton brigade, after having retired for two years, has again rejoined. In the early part of the year I received an application from the Parnell (Auckland) brigade to be admitted members of the association. They forwarded returns of plant, &c., but no subscriptions. 1 have made two applications for same, but have received 110 answer. During the past twelve months the Grahamstown brigade, through difficulties with the Borough Council, has resigned. The Ross brigade' has also withdrawn from the association. The Dunedin and Ashburton brigades have also disbanded during tho same period, but re-organised again—the Dunedin brigade as a municipal one. As soon as possible after last meeting, 1 forwarded printed copies of ieport and balance-sheet to all brigades. In due course I received an acknowledgment of receipt of same from Vice-President Amos. At the same time lie declined the honor of being elected Vice-President, but rafter some persuasion from President Gumming and myself, consented to hold office for another year. From instructions received at last meeting, 1 forwarded a circular to, 1 believe, all the municipalities in New Zealand, (48 m number), relative to Secretary East-hope's motion re appointing the first and second officers of brigades, fire inspectors, eleven out of the number answered that they already appointed the two officers as suggested; eight, for several reasons, declined to do so, and the rest never answered, During tho year the officers have beon busy in drawing up working conditions for competitions, and they believe that the present ones will bear. favorable comparison with any previously made. After receiving the draft copy, I immediately had some printed and distributed among the brigades. It was also decided by the officers of the association (after sooing the liborality displayed by the citizens of JNapier and of the Hawke's Bay district in presenting such valuable trophies and money prizes) to present a prize from the association. The .officers trust that this meeting will consent to tho action of tho officers in this matter. In Maroh last I wrote to tho several brigades relative to 'the long delayed question of threetyear'certificates, them to forward me the number they would re. quire, and also money for same' The answers oarae in so slow and few that I was compelled to return the money sent, and itwillnow-befqr.you to decide if this question shall fall through or not. I would respectfully suggest that, if the association funds will, allow, the samo shall be used to procure the certificates from England in the first instance, the money to be returned as the certificates are sold, In May last I wrote to the offers commanding the Volunteer force in Qtagp,'re)at}vO tb exenjptipi} qf Firemen from militia duty, Un the 19th June 1 received the following from Dis< triot Adjutant Gordon 1 " If any alteration in the Militia Act is made this session this subjoct will receive favorable attention," 1 have had no favorable communication upon this subject. In May last I wrote to the Hon R. Stout, Premier, on behalf of tho demonstration committee, to allow his name to be placed on the committee. His answer was most favorable. I also asked him about the grant, and ho answered that the same amount would be pladed lipOn |he estimates up last yoar, ' '" ' I have a letter to plaoo before you relative to insurance against accident or death, whether on duty or not. I think for the benefit.of all brigades it will be necessary for the conference to give this question their fullest attention. During the past twelve months 1 gold and 24 silver medals, 7 gold and 54 silver bars have been orderetj received; there are also 12 medals and 4 liars ordered and hot received as yet. There is one matter that I have forgotten to refer to, and that is sending a monprial to the AttorneyGeneral "relative tq exempting firemen frqm juries.' I would respectfully suggest that the officers of tho association, in passing through Wellington, should wait upon the Attorney-General ai(d jay this matter before him, 1 am sure it will be more successful than .a niomorial, for they can explain many things that could not be stated be writing, Previous to the meeting closing 1 would suggest that the Government be thanked for their continued liberality in passing the annual grant; that the several officers of the Railway Department be also thanked tor the trouble they have had in issuing and distributing the free railway passes; and last, although not least, that Messrs J. Macaraand Co., Coach raqptjetprs, thanked for |heir liberality in issuing coach tickets tp all brigades at 30s fo.r. return journey, Fpr- the information of many new mem' bera, I.have noted tho followingAt a meeting of fire brigades of the South Island, held in Ctatchurcli December lo", the following brigades were represented: Christchurch, Dupflln, Port Chalmers, Morpington, Kajapoi,' Rangiora, Lyttelton, Wamiate, and Timaru.. At this meeting it was resolved to form an association of. the fire brigades throughout New' ; Zealand. Mr - Harris, late superintendent of the Christchurch brigade, was elected president, and I,' your humble servant was. electfed Secratary. The : meetings were made peripatetic,, so as! to afford the delegates an opportunity of iniilejjtinjj |he p^rit 4 ari3 pdo.qf Working iii various towns. The first annual meeting was held lni' Dunedin, J&nuuy, 1880, when 11 South Island brigtfta' attends, add 4 North Island, c* toll 87; usecond annual . uectfejjj, yeUfegtpti, lecl, 14 South

Island and 5 Noitli Island brigades attended, number on roll 25; third annual meeting, Timaru, 1882,14 South Island and 5 North Island brigades. attended, number on roll 25 ; fourth annual meeting, Napier, 1883, 6 South Island and 6 North Island brigades attended, number on roll 26 ; fifth annual meeting Nelson, 1884, 6 South Island and 5 North Island brigades attended, number on roll 24; sixth annual meeting Dunedin, 1885, 15 South Island and 9 North Island brigades attended, .number on roll 49; seventh annual (present) meeting, held m Napier, 1886, 11 South Island and 10 North .Island brigades attended, number on roll 32. •

It was resolved that the roport of Delegate Mansell be received. After a song, the health of. Fire Inspector Muir and ex-Captain Muir was proposed. In response Mr Muir thanked them for the compliment, and in the course of his remarks he called upon the team not to be disheartened because they had won no trophies. Considering the time they had made in the various events, it showed that the Maßterton Brigade held a very prominent position, with the pick of New Zealand. It was a very difficult matter in a place like Masterton, where they had no appliances, to cope with the larger towns, but he trusted at the next annual competition, which is likely to be held' in Auckland, that they would prove more successful, . He suggested they should hold a competition amopg themselves say, on Easter Monday, when he had no doubt they would receive strong support from the outside public, as well as create a great amount of interest in "the doings of the. brigade, It would also be a means of increasing their funds and getting firemen efficient in their duties. He trusted the Brigade would work in unity and attend well at their practices, as that waß the only means of making the firemen efficient. Mr Muir proposed the health of the Chairman, Captain Peacock, which was drunk with full honors and cheers.

Captain Peacock, in response to the toast, thanked the officers and men for the support they had accorded him during the time he had been in charge, He folt, on taking office, that an older and more experienced fireman would better have filled the post, His heart was, however, in the work, and the support he had received encouraged him in hoping that things would go on improving and the Brigade would prove itself of that value to the town for which it was formed, The public, through the press, expect, great things of them, but they did not supply them with the means, The efficiency of the men was certainly in advance of the material supplied them to work with, Cheers.

The toast of the ladies was proposed by Secretary Leahy in a' neat little speech, coupled with the names of Lieut Ewjngton and Fireman Worth, to which they duly replied. In response to the toast of the Press coupled with the namo of Mr J. Brown, the latter said ho thanked them for tho hearty manner in which they had drank the toast. Ho'knew there had been some smarting over the critisims of 'the Press recently, but the alteration iiv the man-, agement and additional appliances they had received and the new footing they were now on, showed the benefit that cntisism had dono. He felt sure that as long as tho critisism of their actions was just they would not complain. (Hear, Hear). There were one or two tilings ho would like to suggest if he mi?|it do so, Ho thought that a Bucket Brigade should be formed. If they had say six companies, with their buckets placed at various points in the town, on the first alarm of fire each company would run to its station and from there to the fire, A few buckets of water would frequently stop a fire before it had time to spread. Another point was a fire police, At a fire, it was of the utmost importance that the Brigade should bo free from the interference of the public. (Hear, hear). They could also act as a salrage corpß, and would be a check upon pilfering. Captain Peacock proposed die health of the Mayor and Cuuncil, coupled with the namo of Or Muir.

>fr iji responding, said a late Mayor of Wellington had said he wondered what possessed people to becomo firemen. Ho, himself, wondered what possessed people to become Oounoillors, There, was excitemont in one, but the other was no catch. Ho had thought before ho entered the Council that it was the fault of the members that the Brigade did not get its requirements attended to, but his ideas were altered now. He did not believe there was a Councillor but what would willingly help the Brigade, but they could not 011 account of want of funds.

TJip Qhajnnan sajd in concluding the evening's pleasure arid business combined, he would like to say in reference to the suggestions thrown out by Mr Brown that they were of sufficient importance to warrant him in putting them on the business papor for the next meeting for discussion. He thought the fire police corps most essential. If such a corps had been in existonce at the last fire they would not have got into confusion with the hose. It was the public who had foolishly, though perhaps with tho best intention, rushed tq help $9 brigade! and instead"fhoy M dorie'harm by partying the hose to the wrong engine. " Auld Lang Syne," concluded a most enjoyable evening.