FIRE POLICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 95, 19 October 1910, Page 10

FIRE POLICE.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Wellington Voiunteer Fire Police was held in the Mayor's room at the Town Hall last evening, the Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford) presiding over an attendance of twenty. The secretary's report stated that the corps as it now / stands is 51 strong, four members having resigned and three new members having joined. Eighteen members resided in the city and were within easy call of the central station. Brooklyn has four members, Kilbirnie five, and Newtown three. Only two fires of any serious dimensions had occurred i during the year — one ao Maystreet, Oriental Bay, in September, and the other at Thornuon-quay on the 18th September. Lieutenantb M. H. Biggs and J. C. Cusack ran equal for number of calls attended, namely 51. As the greatest forbearance had to be used in dealing with the general public at fires, said the report, it was pleasing to note that no friction of any kind had occurred, nor had .there been any pilfering reported. Special mention was made of the kind courtesy extended to the fire police by Superintendent O'Brien, his officers and staff, and members of the local police should not be forgotten j in their untiring efforts towards aiding the fire police in the duties of the latter at fires. The report reviewed several social functions held during the year. The balance-sheet showed receipts to be £61 17s Id (including £13 8s 3d ! brought forward from last year) and expenditure to be £43 8s 7d, leaving a credit of £18 8s 6d. ) The report and balance-sheet) were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows :— -Captain, Mr. J. W. Wright; lieutenants, Messrs. T. Ballinger, J. C. Cusack" M. H. Biggs, and H. Woolcotv; lion, treasurer, Mr. F. Cohen; hon. secretary, Mr. E. yon Bernewitz ; auditors, Messrs, R. W. Brown and F. Harrington. UNSELFISH WORK. In proposing "Health and Success to the Fire Police," the Mayor said that statistics which had been placed in front of him showed that the corps had now been in existence for eleven years, and it was a very gratifying thing to find that amongst present-day members were gentlemen who were members at its inception, namely, Messrs. Cohen, Ballinger, Hildreth, and J. Wright. There was very little known among the general public except at fire times about the unselfish work, the untiring energy and sacrifice made by the fira police, and when they realised that men had engaged in the work from love of it, since 1899, it was only another illustration of the fact that volunteers were always worth more than pressed men. After the work that the fire police hau effected, it seemed to the speaker that the council had not done enough in- the way of maintenance and assistance. Superintendent O'Brien had reported that the corps was a most valuable adjunct to the city's regular fire brigade, and was indispensable at big fires. The Mayor thanked the corps for the help it had given the city, and, on behalf of th« permanent staff of the fire brigade, paid a tribute to the work it had done. The toast was coupled with the names of the captain, secretary, and old members. In reply, Captain Wright made reference to .the amicable relationship existing between Superintendent O'Brien and the corps. Several other members also spoke, and at the conclusion of the formal business, some of the veteran brigadesmen gave congenial reminiscences. During the evening twenty-two members were sworn in.