MEETINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1928, Page 6

MEETINGS

GREY FIRE BOARD.

The quarterly meeting of the Greymouth Fire Board was held last evening. Present: Messrs J. Steer (Chairman), F. C. Haycroft, G. Perotti, C. L. Green, J. McGinley, and Mr T. Qlarke, Superintendent of the Brigade. Accounts totalling £l7B/10/4 were passed, for payment. The Under Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, returned copy of the Board’s estimate of expenditure for.year ending March 1, 1929, duly approved by the Acting-Minister of Internal Affairs.

The Superintendent submitted his report for the quarter ending June 21, 1928, which read as follows: — During the quarter the Brigade has received four*calls, one a false alarm, one a motor bus, and two dwellings, the two latter being promptly dealt with, only slight loss resulting. The membership‘is at full strength, and all calls and musters have been well attended. During the term a stand for the bell has been erected a,t the High Street Station, and the space in front of that station has been laid down in asphalt. The bell at Preston Road has been removed to Blaketown Station, and electric light has been installed there. A suction pipe, which has been installed at No. 1 bridge, Marsden Road, is available for use by the motor pump, should an outbreak of fire occur in that area. The usual routine duties have been regularly attended to and all gear kept in good condition. Mr T. Clarke forwarded his resignation from the Brigade owing to ill health.

A deputation, headed by DeputySuperintendent Deere, from the Brigade, waited on the Board, and expressed. the surprise and concern felt among the members of the Brigade when they had learnt of the intention of Mr Clarke to resign. There bad been no friction between the Brigade and their’able Superintendent, and they did not want him to leave. Therefore they asked the Board to do all in its power to influence the Superintendent to reconsider his decision. The deputation were willing to carry on temporarily, if the Board could see fit to allow Mr Clark some months’ health vacation; His health was steadily improving, and after leave from duty he might be in better health, which would enable him to carry on.

Mr Steer spoke of the good qualities of the Superintendent, and after discussion it was decided to ask Mr Clark to accept three months’ leave from active duty. Mr Clarke agreed to this proposal and thanked the Board and Brigade for their eulogies.