FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9862, 11 March 1896, Page 5

FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Second Day. The sitting of the Conference was resumed at 10 a.m. yesterday, the President in the chair. Captain Jones, of Timaru, took his seat in the Conference. The Conference proceeded to discuss the following notice of motion from Raugiora :— 44 That tho Association fix a d*te prior to each Conference, say three weeks before, for the closing of all propositions and questions to be brought forward at such meeting, aud that only one business circular be sent out." ' . Superintendent Smith (Rangiora) moved the motion. . Captain Henry (Temuka) seconded the proposition. After a short discussion, the motion was put and carried. Superintendent Smith (Rangiora) moved —"That messengers who are of the qualified age of members under the Association rules, and have belonged to a Brigade for the required period, be allowed to compete I at demonstrations,-and also be entitled to the usual privileges." Foreman McGrbgor seconded the motion. The resolution was lost ou the voices. A letter was read from Superintendent Waterworth (Napier Brigade), applying fol the long service star of the Association, and forwarding certificates of his having served in the Lytteltou and Napier Fire Brigade for twenty-five years. The Secretary read the report of the Executive, which stated that owing to the rules they were unable to grant the star as the records of Superintendent Waterworth'a service had been destroyed, but brought the matter before the Couference. Captain Stewart moved—"That the rule regarding the granting of the gold star be amended in the direction of adding that both the gold star and the five years medal iv addition to the certificate of the principal officer of the Brigade and the chief local authority any further evidenoe, documentary or other, which the Executive considered sufficient, should be accepted." Superintendent Smith (Rangiora) seoonded the motion. After some discussion, f Captain Michel suggested that the following addition to Rule XL would meet the case —"That where the records of service have been lost by fire or other unavoidable cause the Association may grant the gold star, provided other evidence iB given to satisfy the Association that the member has actually served for a period of twenty-five years." Captain Stewart's resolution was then put aud carried unanimously. An application was received from Second Engineer J. H. Edliu, Napier Fire Brigade, for a three years' certificate, which he had been unable to obtain. Foreman Randall (Napier) explained the circumstances attending the matter. Enginekeeper Anderson (Thames) moved 44 That the application be granted, provided the rules be complied with." Secretary Champion (Mount Eden) seconded the motion. After some discuasion the resolution was agreed to. Treasurer Martin j(Gore) moved—" That this Conference ia of' opinion the Executive should instruct Brigades sending delegates and members of teams to Demonstrations, that it is expected that they will take part ia all the publio functions provided by the Demonstration Committee. Captain Bellrinqer (New Plymouth) seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously. A letter was road from the Auckland Fire Brigade with reference to the remarks made by the Premier iv connection with the Asylum fire at Auckland. The finding of the Commissioner wai totally opposed to the remarks made by the Premier, and the Brigade wished that the finding of the Commissioner should be printed in the official record. Foreman Gladding (Auckland) moved— 44 That the finding of the Commissioner re the fire at the Auckland Asylum ou the . charge laid by the Premier against Superintendent Hughes be entered on the official records of the Association." Engine • Keeper Anderson (Thameß) seconded the motion. Captain Stewart thought they would be establishing a very dangerous'precedent ll the conference agreed to publish a finding which the conference had not got before them. It was pointed oat that the finding had already appeared in "The Reoord, and also that the gist of the roport of the commission which fully exonerated the Auckland Brigade had been telegraphed throughout the oolony. The re*olution was after aomd discussion withdrawn. The Seorotary read a circular from the National Fire Association, inviting New Zealand representatives to a National Fin Brigade Tournament, at the Agricultural Hall, in June next. The letter was received. Mr F. M. Baker, of New York, wait ap< pointed as honorary correspondent to ths Association in America. Treasurer Martin (Gore), referred to a model of a testing spanner which had been laid before the'' Conference at Wauganui by Lieut. Shaw, of Gore. It was, he understood, decided to aocept it, and name the spanner the Shaw spanner.' Secretary Gilbkrd pointed out that the Committee appointed to deoide upon competitive designs accepted one from Mr Cummings, Wanganui. Fireman McGhicaott (Kaiapoi) moved— 44 That, with a view to lesson the expense incurred by Brigades in sending teams to compete at demonstrations, the Fire Brigades Encampment be held where the demonstration is being held." ! Captain Hall (Inveroargill) seconded, the' motion. In reply to Secretary Pragnell, The President said that two companies oonld not send separate teams. 'They had better form two brigades. Secretary Robson (Geraldine) moved— " That it is deiirable that some uniform badge for officers ho adopted, so that the distinctive rank may be more easily ascertained. Lieutenant Colville (Waimabe) seconded, the motion, which was agreed to. Superintendents Black well (Kaiapoi), Toomey (Lyttelton), E. Smith. (Christchurch), and Lieutenant Pauling (Aehburton) were appointed a Committee to draw tip a drill manual. t It was decided to recommend the Dei monstration Committee to use' Harwood's electric timing apparatus at the demonstration in conjunction with the timekeepers. I , A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Harwood for the trouble he. had taken , in the matter, and on the motion ot Captain \ Bellkinger, seconded by Foreman Simp- i son, Mr Harwood was elected honorary ! electrician to the Association. j At 12.30 p.m. the Conference adjourned , till 1,30 p.m. ; The question of several men entered in , teams for the demonstration whose names were not returned on the roll on June 30th . last was brought up, and it was explained > that several of the Brigades affected come I tinder tho heading of new Brigades. r Mr G. R. Hart, Chairman of the Entertainment Committee announced that the li Directors of the Kaiapoi Woollen Com- . pany had offered to provide a special train . to convey the visiting-firemen to Kaiapoi to 3 inspect the Woollen Milhi next morning, f (Applause). The train would leave ChriscB church at 8 a.m., so that they could get' back by 1 p.m., in time for the cricket fc picnic. Accommodation would be provided y for two hundred people, and the invitation I included the firemen's lady friends. c The offer was accepted with cordial thanks, c Letters were read by Mr Hart from th« ~ Linwood Football Club offering, tbe nee oi a their rooms, and from the Bydenhanv.Work* mg Men's Club, extending an invitation tc I visiting firemen. jt ; The invitations were accepted with thanks. a . It was decided to suspend Rule 1 relatiug a to the constitution of teams in order to allow the teams of the Greytown and Mas- - tcrton municipal brigades to compete at the demonstration. "(-'•" if It was resolved as an instruction to the s incoming executive that the price of mcmi bars' certificates be Is instead of 2*, as at il present. A The attention of brigades was nailed to r the official organ, the New Zealand Fire and II Ambulance Sword. i. It was resolved to register the Assooi* i t ation under the. Unclassified Societies' Aot, I On the motion ef Captain JtausU*

seconded by Captain Bkllrinobr, it was resolved as a recommendation to the incoming Executive to consider tho advisability of providing two aggregate points prizes, one for high pressure and one for engine events, the Executive to spend the ■urn of £40, if necessary, and draw up conditions. Captain Leach (Port Chalmers) invited the Association to hold the next annual conference at Port Chalmers, and an invitation was given by Secretary Robson to meet at Gf-raidine. It was decided on a ballot by 42 to 10 to meet at Port Chalmers. Secretary Champion (Mount Eden) proposed that the Demonstration be recommended to omit events 4 and 5 from the aggregate fireman Randell (Napier) seconded the motion, which, after a report submitted by Lieutenant Smith had been read and a short discussion, was lost. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows .—President, Secretary C. E. Bellringer (New Plymouth) ; Vice-Presidents, Capt. Leach (Port Chalmers) and Treasurer Martin (Gore) ; Secretary and Treasurer, Sub-Superinten-dent J. G. Gilberd (Napier) re-elected : Auditor, Mr F. W. Garner (Napier) re-elected. The retiring President thanked the delegates for the manner in which tbey had conduoted the debates, and for the way in which they bad supported him during the Conference. The newly-eleoted President then took the chair, and returned thanks for bis •lection. The Vice-Presidents and Seoretary also returned thanks. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers, the Caledonian Society for the use of their rooms, Lhe Ohristohurch Fire Brigade, the Demonstration Committee, the Christchurch Working Men's Club, tbe Press, and all others who bad assisted in making the visit of the firemen auccessful and agreeable. The Secretary stated that the Hon. Mr Cadman had agreed to allow Auckland firemen to return free by rail from Wellington to New Plymouth, or Wellington to Napier. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Cadman. After transacting some routine business the Conference closed.