CENTRAL VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 272, 20 November 1877, Page 2

CENTRAL VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

+ The tenth annual meeting of the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade was held last evening, in the Brigade Hall, which was handsomely decorated out with flags and ferns for the occasion. There was a very good attendance of "members, Captain Moss occupying the chair. Councillors Maginnity, George, and Allen, Mr. Fraser and Mr. Simpson, agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company, were also present. Letters of apology for nonattendance were read from his Worship the Mayor, Mr. George Hunter, M.H.R., and Councillor George Fisher, who stated that pressing business prevented their being- present. Iv opening the proceedings, the Chairman stated that he regretted the absence of several members of the Council, and also several of the insurance agents, and he could only attribute it to the confidence felt in the Brigade, and the general belief that its affairs were in capital order. The minutes of the last meeting were then read and confirmed, after which the secretary read the annual report of the committee. The committee's report showed that there had been a great number of alarms during the year, and eleven fires, at all of which the brigade was present. Three of these had been attended with loss of life, viz., the watchman on board the ship Himalaya, a child of Mr. Alcorn's on Lambton Quay, and the last, and the most deplorable of all, that by which Mrs. Johnson and her five children were burned to death. The brigade's driver had sustained an accident by being thrown from his seat whilst attending an alarm, causing thereby considerable expense. The insurance companies had presented 500 feet of canvas hose to the brigade, and a reel had been made for carrying the same, which was intended to be placed in some convenient and central position in Te Aro. As regarded the liabilities of the brigade, these had been reduced, notwithstanding the extra expenditure, from £618 5s Id to £183 Is 6d, showing that a reduction had been made of £435 3s 7a. The expenditure during the year had been £1103 14s 3d, and the receipts £1182 15s lid, leaving a balance in the bank of £79 Is Bd— a state of affairs which induced the committee to hope that at the next annual meeting the brigade would be entirely free from debt. At present the station was clear of debt, excepting the sum of £100 lent from the sick and accident fund, which although frequent calls had been made upon it, showed a credit balance of £135 6s Cd. Reference was made in the report to the fact that one of the members was still confined to the hospital from an accident he had sustained; also, that he and his family had been generally assisted by the voluntary donations of the members. The report concluded by setting forth that the plant, &c., were in a capital state of repair, although, considerably reduced in quantity through several lengths of leather hose having been badly damaged and burnt at the late fire. The Chairman briefly explained in greater detail several items in the report, and also in' the balance-sheet submitted, after which he moved their adoption. Mr. Fraser suggested that some arrangement might be made by which the brigade should be supplied gratuitously with gas. Councillor Maginnity expressed the pleasure he had at being present at the meeting, and paid the brigade a high compliment for its efficiency which rendered it aud the other brigade two of the finest in the colony. In his I opinion, the Insurance Companies did not respond so liberally as they should, seeing the great benefits they secured. As to supplying the gas free, he would even support that in his place in the Council. Mr. Simpson argued that the insurance companies, in Iris opinion, supported the briI gades as far as they could, the public getting the greatest amount of advantage, inasmuch as it was merely their business to accept risks at so ynuch premium, and charge for their responsibility accordingly. The Chairman remarked, in reply to one of the meeting, that it was contemplated to have a fire-bell in the barrack yard, after | which the motion for the adoption of the report was put and carried. The following officers were then unanimously elected for the ensuing year, Mr. Simpson - occupying, the chair meanwhile :— Captain — L. Moss ; lieutenant — H. Crawford ; foreman — W. Dodsworth; secretary — W.Austen. The following elections also took place :—Branchmen — Messrs. Cohen, Adams', Taylor, and Christie ; hydrantnien — Messrs. Gardener, Capper, Murray, and Webb; ladder menMessrs. Loft and Greenfield; committee men — Messrs. Adams, Webb, and Woolcot; bugler —Mr. Biddle. The Secretary, as deputed by the members of the brigade, then read a flattering testimonial to Capt. Moss, and at the same time presented him, as the gift of the members themselves, with a handsome and appropriate gold and silver medal. Captain Moss, in accepting the flattering testimonial, replied in a few well chosen remarks, in the course of which he observed that he had always done his utmost, and would continue to do so for the benefit of the brigade. In promoting its interests he was bound to recognise the assistance he had received from ' the insurance agents and the Corporation. Sir Win. Fitzherbert and Mr. Bunny had likewise greatly assisted them in procuring their build- ' i ing and plant, and he was happy to say that ' ! tfteir property had been secured without the necessity of door to door subscription*. He thanked* the brigade for their continued conI fidence in him; and, before concluding:, observed that credit bad been given to a, very worthy gentleman, now deceased, for being the starter of the Fire Brigade in Wellington, whereas he (Captain Moss) and several others were the first to take action, which resulted in his election as the first captain, in March, 1865. Councillor George Allbn expressed the great satisfaction he felt at seeing the brigade

in such a satisfactory and efficient position, observing that he would do all he could to assist them in the Council. The nomination of Treasurer having been postponed, Messrs. Stanward and Young were elected new raembsrs, and after votes of thanks to Captain Moss and Mr. Simpson, the proceedings terminated.