AUCKLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2809, 27 July 1866, Page 4

AUCKLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

A general monthly meeting of the members of the Voluuteer Fire Brigade was held last eycuing, at the stores of Messrs. E. and H. Isaacs, Foit-atreet. There was a numerous attendance. Mr. Asher Asher, Superintendent, presided. Mr. H. Joseph, Hon. Sec., read the minutes of last meeting, which were confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Hon. Secketaby then read the copy of a letter which he had sent to the City Board and to the Manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company, respecting the damaged state of the hose, and the defraying expense of a person to look after the engines and hose, to which he received the following letters in reply : — ' " New Zealand Insurance Company, "Auckland, June 30, 1866. " Mr; H. Joseph, "'Hon. Sec. Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade. " Sir, — In compliance with your request I summoned a meeting of insurance agents "at my office yesterday. The representatives of the following companies attended, viz. : — Commercial Union, Victoria, Queen, Liverpool, London, and Globe, Auckland, Koyal, New Zealand. *' 1. It was resolved th»t, provided the City Board pay half the cost of new hose and other requirements, the insurance companies will pay the other moiety. ' " 2. That in the opinion of the insurance companies, 1,000 feet of leather hoso is sufficient for present requirements, and that the superintendent of the JFire Brigade be jiuthoiised to obtain that quantity should the provisions of first resolution be complied with. " " 3. That the insurance companies are willing to pay half the cost of a man to look after the hose, if the expense does not exceed '£1 per week in all. "4. The insurauce companies agree to pay half the cost of men employed pumping at" first, if the expenses are kept within reasonable limits. "Should the City Board consent to these arrangements, 1 should suggest your requesting each insurance company to forward to you the amount of premiums received during the twelve months ending 30th June, within the City Board boundary, as the companies have agieed to contribute rateably to the various expenses of the v Fire Brigade according to the amount of their respective risks ; it will then be a Bimple matter to collect from each company its proportion. "I will forward the information regarding my company as «oou as I kuow the City Board agree to the proposal. — I remain, &a., "Geobgb P. Pierce, " Manager."

" City Board of Commissioners' Office, "Auckland, July 24, 1866. "Sir,— l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ult., asking the Board, to assist in providing' hose for the Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade, and iv reply thereto beg to inform you that, as the Board have organised a brigade to take charge of their own engine and appliances, they cannot accede/ to your request. — I have, &c , "JOHK OGILVIE, "Secretary."

CITST BOARD ENGINE, ETC. The Chaiiman stated that a great deal had been said with, reference to providiug the brigade with proper hose, and he had taken much trouble In the matter. On the previous evening there had been proposals made to him, and he had settled the matter. The City Board would not bear half the expense, but they had au engine and 800 feet of serviceable hose at their disposal. They would agree to pass over the engine aud plant and their men to the brigade, to be under the command of himself (the Chairman), and Mr. Andersou, Foreman of Works ; and the latter would supply him with all requisites for the engine. He (the chairman) gave them to understand that the Brigade would accept of that proposal. All labour at fires would be paid for in the woiking of the City Board engine. He (the chairman) had no doubt that in a short time all the requirements of the Brigade would be provided. He had seen them working, aud was perfectly satisfied with their state of efficiency; and with the proposed arrangeineut there would be no difficulty in carrying out their views and those of the public. The members of the City Board Brigade would receive orders at fires from Mr: Anderson through him (the Chairman) as head of the brigade, and they would be enrolled as members of the Volunteer Biigade.

Mr. Joskph explained what had taken place at the meeting referred to by the Chairman. Mr. Swanson attended as a private member of the Board, and stated thnt the raembtrs of the City Boaid Brigade and Mr. Anderson would work conjoiutly with the Volunteer Brigade in putting out fires. He (Mr. Joseph) would like to bee the working men paid for their services. They could not expect if a fire broke out in the city during the day that a working man would leave his employment and give his time and labour without remuueration. The arrangement proposed was one coming from the minority to the majority. The Volunteer Brigade "were in the majority, and they should have a proper understanding of * their position before they took charge of the City Board engine.

Mr. 11.. Isaacs agreed with the observations made by the Hon Sec. At the meeting referred tothere was no distinct arrangemeut made. There was only Some casual conversation on the matter. There ought to be a definite understanding come to between the City Board and the Voluuteer Brigade. Through waut of a proper understanding more than one biigade had beeu biokeu up. The men should know definitely what they were to do, and from whom they were to i eceive their instructions, otherwise there would be dissatisfaction among them, which, ill the end, would result in the breaking up of the Brigade. - The Brigade at present promised to work well, and they should not be asked to bow down to five or six men for the sake of getting the engine of the City Board. They might have the engine without men to work it. Theie should be a memorandum drawn up and agreed to between the Brigade and the City Board. The Chairman said the committee' of the City Board would meet next day (Friday), at which the subject would be brought up, and he would have a proper arrangement made respecting the matter. Mr. Isaacs : Are the men of the City Board to be ' enrolled?

The Chairman replied that they would be enrolled members of the Volunteer- Brigade, and be under the control of the officers, the. same as the present membertnrf the Brigade.

Mr. Isaacs said he would be satisfied with th*t arrangement. He thought it right to state that Mr. "Swanson had *o authority from the Board to make any promise j he was only at the meeting held the previous night in a private capacity, and merely gave expression to his own views on the subject.

Mr. Cohen proposed as a resolution, lhat Mr. Asher be requested not to accept the engine, or auy of the plant of the City Board, unless they *re handed over unconditionally." Mr. SOEA.T3 seconded the resolution.

Mr. Joseph said such a resolution would damage the matter altogether, so that they would be without either engine or hoie.

Mr. Jacobs proposed, as an amendment, "That the Superintendent does not take over the No. 1 engine until there is some definite understanding come to between him aud the members of the City Board "' The amendment was not seconde 1, and lapsed. Mr. Isaacs thought the meeting might give the Superintendent power to curry out an arrangement with the Board. It should be made an express con* dition that the Board or their men did not interfere with the Brigade in their operations at fires. Mr. Cohen withdrew his resolution, after considerable discussion had taken place. Mr. Lewisson proposed, "That the Superintendent and committee make such arrangement with the City Board, respecting their engine, as the committee | may think fit." [ Mr. H. Isaacs seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman said he would withdraw the proposition he had made, and the members of the Brigade would remain as' they were until after the result of the committee's negotiations with the City Board.

LBTTBK OF THANKS. Mr. H. Isaacs handed in the following letter, which was read : — ♦•'Auckland, 23rd July, 1866. " Sic,— l beg to tender my sincere thanks to you, and the members of the Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade genera ]y, for the promptness and ability of their services on Friday night last, at the fire in stables at the rear of the United Service Hotel, Queen-street. I also enclose * cheque for £10, to go to the fund for the relief of sic'; members, as a small mark of my appreciation of their services. Wishing you and the members every success, — I remain; Ac, -"Edward Norman. " To the Superintendent of the Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade." He observed that it must be pleasing to the Fire Brigade that their services were appreciated, and much more so that there were some liberal men in the community. They should feel grateful for* the lib-rality thus shown, and the l<in<3 expression of feeling contained in the letter just read. Some node* should be taken of the letter by the meeting to show that the membeis appreciated Mr. Norman's kindness, and he trusted that that gentleman might never want their services again. He moved a resolution to the effect that the honorary secretary should write to Mr. Norman, expressing the thanks of the Brigade for his kind letter and handsome donation. Mr. Lewissdn seconded the resolution, which wa§ unanimously carried. The monthly subscriptions were then paid, and some new membeis enrolled, after which the meeting separated. „