FIRE BRIGADE'S ANNUAL DINNER. PROPOSED LEGISLATION DISCUSSED.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 57, 9 March 1905, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE'S ANNUAL DINNER. PROPOSED LEGISLATION DISCUSSED.

BRIGADE'S WORK COMMENDED. Tho sixth annual dinner of tho Wellington Municipal Firo Brigado nnd Firo Police was hold in thn Central Firo Brigado Station lnst evening, his Worship tlui Mayor (Mr. J. Li. W. Aitkon) pro siding. Tho Miiyor wns supported on his right by Iho Minister for Public Works (tho Hon. William Hall-Jones.), and on his left by Mr John Duthie, M. 11.1t. Tho lion. T. K. Macdonald, M.I i.C, nlao occupied a seat at the head of the table. The toast of "Tho King" having been duly honoured, City Councillor C. 11. Iznrd proposed "Tho Ministry and Parliament," coupled with tho names of tho Minister for Public Works, the lion T. K. Mucdonald, nnd Mr. Duthie. Councillor Iznrd expressed tho opinion that tho Government had done the very host it possibly could to further tho interests of the colony. He commended to the Ministry and all members of Parliament iho necessity of putting Firo Brigades on a real, sound, satisfactory footing. Responding, tho Minister for Public Works expressed tho conviction that all members of Parliament tried to do their duty, though they difforod in opinions. No ronsonablo man objected to criticism of tho right sort— amonding cniticism with tho object to improve, not criticism of tho carping nature, intended only to find fault and destroy. Any fool could find fault. In tho prosont stage of New Zealand, with its nine hundred odd thousand inhabitants, ho hoped and believed that Parliament was laying a foundation on which an imposing super Ktrucluro would be, rnised in the future. With regnrd to the Firo Brigades Bill, when the Bill wont into committee tho hcopc of tho fire districts was altered from municipal to provincial, and tho provincial firo districts mot with much opposition whon tho Bill camo back to tho House. For instance, Invorcargill would object to being controlled from Dunodin, and thero worn similar instances. By the tone of the discussion on tho altered Bill, it was judged to bo wiso that thu Bill should stand over till uoxt session, in order that tho local bodies might discuss it. Though ho did not think they would get the Bill that Councillor Izard wanton, ho hoped they would next session got a step on tho road of reform such as they all desired. Noxt to getting wlmt you wanted tho best thing was to tako what you could got. Ho thought they would get something benoficial, but from his knowledge of tno tompur of tho llouso he did not bolieyc they could get tho provincial districts. Ho congratulated tho Mayor and Superintendent Hugo on the York dono by the Firo Brigade, which ho b«lieved to bo tho model Firo Brigado of tho colony — perhaps, living here, ho had soon moro of their work. Ho reforred to tho old times when the Fire Brigado had not tho same facilities and porliaps not as good sort of men ; then Cnptam Hugo camo along, and got i he right sort of mon, and citizens always know that whenever thero was a lire, whatever tho hour, and whether they wore in their beds or nut, tho best wns always being dono for tho saving of life nnd property. When they got a man of experience and a mnn who knew what should bo done, they should pin their faith to htm, and when they had n man like Superintendent Hugo in churgo, thoy need linve no fears as to tho result. 'lhe lion. T. K. Macdonald responded in appropriate terms on behalf of tho Legislative Council. Referring to tho Firo Brigade, Mr. Mncdonald recollected "tho great and good sorviccs of tho Volunteer Firo Brigade beforo this Brigado was ever called on." The citizens of Wellington held in high esteem tho mon who did that service, und wore proud of tho Superintendent und Brigade thoy hud to-day. Mr. Dnthio agreed that tho character of Parliament stood high, but pointed out thnt tho Ministry so overshadowed Purliumont now that tho Ministry was really tho principal body. He did not soo t ho uso of arguing against tho contontion that insurance companies should contribute towards tho muintniunco of Firo Brigades. Ho thought that oven if the insurance compuuies had got to contribulo they would rectify the thing upon tho rates. Tho Wellington Brigade was looked to as a model one, and ho wus content with that, and did not desire v chungc. Ho ditl not agree with this provincial firo district proposal, und with tho calling in of people from Wniignnui, Maslortou, and other places to contributo to our Brigado, nnd we to contributo to theirs. Tho first Bill introduced was going to appropriate tho whole expondituro of tho City of Wellington in firo brigado mattors into a common fund ; they succeeded in stopping that. Ho did nob boliovo in tho multiplications of uodics, Boards, etc. : thero woro so many that tho peoplo had not timo to attend to them. Wellington had got an oflkiont thing, and he would liko to so them hold on to it Thoy should support it us in tho past and got tho sanio oflicioncy. The Mayoi 1 , in proposing tho toast t . "Tho Fire Brigade," which ho described as tho principal toast of the evening, slated that Wellington had ut tho head of its Brigado the best man to bo found for tho purpose in this colony. Apart from tho question of insurunco companies contributing, the Government, at all events, ought to contributo something to the upkeep of the Brigade, but ought to hand it over to tho prosont malingers of tho fire brigudo servico of tho City of Wellington. Superintendent Hugo camo to Wellington to take churgo of the Brigado a short, timo boforo ho (the Mayor) took offico us Mayor, and during the fivo and a half years sinco then he had watched wo working of tho Brigade, and not on any occasion had any ono been able to mako «, substantial statoment to tho effect that tho Brigade had failed in its duty at any ono of the fires. The Mayor hinted that Wellingtoniuns are becoming apt to take tho good work of tho Brigado too much as a matter of course. Responding, Superintendent Hugo stated that a number of tho old brigadesmen wero still in tho Brigado, und had been, and wcro, among thobestmon ho had. Any improvement was duo to betternppliancos, and in some small degree, perhaps, to better oignniao-tion. Superintendent Hugo then reported in detail on the fires during tho last year, und furnished somo comments thereon. Those matters arc reported iv another column. Tho next toast wu« "Tho Mayor and tho City Council," proposed by Lieut. Hildroth (Firo Police), and responded to by tho Mayor and Councillor Smith, who thought the Council hud laid tlio foundation of a groat future for tho city, and that present works would repay tho citizens handsomely. Councillor Cohen nlso replied on tho Council's behalf. "Tho Fire Police" received some graceful compliments from Councillor Smith, who slated that but for tho work of tho Fire Police in keeping back the crowd—

which was in some cases a worse trouble thnn tho lire — tho Brigado would certainly havo hud to bo increased in number. Captain Wiighl, it*. 1 - pond ing, «iid that, of .seven men in the Fire Police in October, 1899, they slill lm<l live. Men did not Klay in tho corps long, unless they attended to their duties lcgularly and pioperly. Councillor (lodber proposed tho "Insurance Companies" Mr. Brindloy, ManugiU' of tho Stale Fire Insurance Department, respondwl , "Tho Visitors" wus proposed by Lieut. Balliugcr (Firo Police), in suitable terms, and wna responded to by Inspector ElliROll, who Hlyled the Brigadesnien "11 most elfcctive staff of brave and fearless men at their work." During tho evening, tho Mayor presented a gold medal to Dr. Pollen for five years' faithful service to Brigadesmen. At any hour, day w night, Dr. Pollen was prepared to tin 11 out and render every service to tho men. Dr. Pollen, in expressing his thanks, guvc some of lii« experiences of fno biigado work, dating from 1876. The Mayor then presented a gold medal, "from tho citizens of Wellington," to Superintendent Hugo, who joined the Brigade on Bth March, 1899. Tho Mayor sniu Superinendent Hugo had done for the Fire Brigado of Wellington what no man had ever dono beforo him. He luid also dono a great deal for the men, who appreciated it, and had asked him (the Mayor) to put a statement before them. From the inception of the present Brigade, Superintendent Hugo had started a club fund, which nil members participated in. During tho last fivo years the Hum of £400 had been spread over the members of the Brigado, out of tho club fund, in the way of social gatherings, billinrd und card tournaments, competitions, etc. Seven members of tho Brigado had gained certificates for first-aid to tho injured. Two engineers had been mado out of raw material in the Brigade; one had gone on his way rejoicing, the other was itill with them. Superintendent Hugo having expressed his gratitude, the Mayor presented service awards, as follows: — Foreman Woolcott, two service bare, making 29 years' service! Firemon Watkins (11 years), W. R. M'Lean (syrs), Wareham, coachman (5 years), Stewart (3 years), A. Hyde (3 years), G. Edwards (3 years), and G. Gardner (3 years). Songs were rendered during tho evening by Messm. Ruff, Lyon, Watkins, nnd Znclmrinh. Mr. Muwson was tho caterer.