Milton Fire Board.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 57, 22 June 1908, Page 3

Milton Fire Board.

The regular meeting of the Milton Fire Board was held at the Borough Council offices on Friday afternoon. Present: Messrs J. W. Petnc (chairman), 0, Grey, Web;, R?id, (Jhalmer, Henderson, and King. Fire Brigade Rooms. A letter was received from the Milton Borough Council offering the use of the present Fire Brigade buildings to the Board for the sum of ;£is per annum. This offer included the use of the Council room tor meetings. The offer was accepted. Recomendations from Palmerston North. A communication from Palmerston North re amendments in the Act and the advisability of forming a Fire Boards' Association was received. Valuation of Plant. Capt. Mitchell, of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, forwarded a valuation he had made of the plant held by the Borough Council, including the fire bell, The total amount of the valuation was ,£123 6s Bd. Mr King said the valuation of, the plant, minus the bell and tower, which had been before them previously was ;£no. The valuations were practically the same. In reply to a question it was stated ■ that the Borough Council paid half cost of valuation. I

The Chairman asked if the Board intended taking over the plant at the valuation, and on the motion of Mr Chalmer it was agreed to do so. No Word from the Government. In reply to a question the Clerk (Mr R. M. Brookes) said no reply had been received from the Minister in regard to the estimated expenditure list which had been forwarded to him, It was pointed out that the Minister's reply must be to hand before July ist, and the clerk was instructed to wire it no reply was to hand by Monday next. Sites for Brigade Buildings Two sites were offered to the BoardOne by Mr xM'Laren in Eden street, and one by Mr 11, White at the corner of Eden and Ajax streets. Mr M'Laren was willing to sell his section with building tor or would give frontage with depth of 66ft for 25s per foot. Mr White's offer was land 40ft by 113 ft for ;£ioo. On the motion of Mr Chalmer it was left with the local members to select the site with power to purchase. Fixing the Pro Rata Share. The amount of premiums paid on buildings by the various companies as per returns to hand was Two companies, the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association Mutual and the Otago Farmers' Mutual, had not sent in any return and the clerk was instructed to write to them drawing attention to the section of the Act bearing on the subject (section 22, Clause C), and asking them to make the return. If they held no risks the form should be filled in accordingly. Stationery, etc. The clerk was authorised to procure the necessary stationery and despatch box. Appointment of Superintendent. Mr Chalmer said the question of the appointment of a superintendent of the Fire Brigade was one which should be considered. He would like Mr King to be app )inted, but he could not hold the dual office of member of the Board and the superintendency. Mr King said he had been considering the question, and had thought it over. He would be sorry to break his connection with the Fire Brigades' Association, and other matters of interest to volunteer fire brigades. He felt it to be an honor to be a member of the Board.

Members generally concurred that Mr King was the best man for the position. He had been superintendent ever since there had been a brigade in Milton, and though they would be sorry to lose his advice and help on the Board he would be of great use to them as superintendent. After further discussion it was agreed to hold over Mr King's resignation as a member of the Board until the close of the meeting, and after the by-laws were considered. This having been done, Mr King's resignation was accepted with regret, and on the motion of Messrs Chalmer and Grey, Mr King was appointed superintendent, and he returned thanks for the confidence shown him. By-laws. These were gone over and amended where necessary, and referred tQ the Board's solicitor. A hearty, vote of thanks was passed to Mr Chalmer for drafting the bylaws. The Brigade Plant. ' It was resolved to notify the Borough Council that the plant would be taken over as from July ist. The great 125-mile race for the motor boat championship of the sea took place at Monaco. Great disappointment was lansed by an accident to the British Wolseley-Siddeley, which prevented her starting. Twenty-one boats entered for the race, which was won-easily by Panhard-Levassor in 3|hrs.. at an average sped of about thirty-tnroonjilw