RUNANGA FIRE STATION

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1945, Page 2

RUNANGA FIRE STATION

.—. —. -o- j OPENING CEREMONY. ’ I J MANY VISITORS ATTEND 1 < Built during the past two and a-half t years by members of the Runanga j Volunteer Fire Brigade, the new Ru- , nan°a fire station was officially open- ( cd on Saturday afternoon in the pre- t pence of a large gathering 01 the ( public and firemen from many parts j of New Zealand. The opening cere- . mony was preceded by a march from { the Dunollie bus terminal bv the Kunanga Band, more than 100 firemen, < and a number of decorated . Firemen were present from Runanga, j Grevmouth, Cobden, Hokitika, Ku- , rnara Reefton, Westport, Blenheim, j Temuka, Fairlie, Te Aroha, Manaia, Waitara, Raetihi, Whakatane, Rangi- < tiki Plains Dairy, Henderson, Auck- ( land, and Kawa Kawa. < The Mayor of Runanga (Mr E. W. ] Kennedy) presided at the opening ( ceremony, and with him on the plat- j form were the Minister of Transport < and Marine, and Acting-Minister ol , Mines (Hon. J. O’Brien), the Under ; Secretary of Mmes (Mr C. H. Ben- . ney.), Hon. B. C. Robbins, M.L.C., the > ; Mayor of Greymouth (Mr F. A. Kitch- , iimham), the Chairman of the Grey- , ] mouth Fire Board (Mr W. H. Parfitt) I ■ and other representatives of local ; - bodies, the State Mines Department, , the Miners’ Union, visiting fire on- . gades, and the clergy. _■ 5 Mr Kennedy said that though the ( . Minister of Mines and Member for the ■ district (Hon. P. C. Webb) was unable to be present because of illness, 1 he was represented by; Mr O’Brien ana . Mr Benney. He described in detail j the history of the new station, and ( the means by which its construction had been financed. Superintendent J. L. Luff and the members of the Brigade had put into the building 6903 hours of labour. The Present liability on the building was ±llOO. and he was sure the citizens would come forward and soon liquidate the debt. The building was of the latest design, and he did not think there was another building constructed by community; effort equal to it in New Zealand. ‘The efforts of those who had built it would never be forgotten Mr Kitchingham said that the trend of local body administration was towards larger units, and where that was not possible, towards co-opera-tion, and he was sure that in many things in the future there would be. co-operation between Greymouth and Runanga. He agreed with Mr Kennedy when he said that he did not know of another building in Nev.Zealand built by co-operative effort in the same way as this had been built. Working bees might keep at it for a few days, or even a week, but they did not make a sustained effort of this sort. He congratulated all connected with the building, which would be a credit to a town many times the size of Runanga. He thought it would be only a matter of months before the outstanding liability was wiped out bv the citizens o? the town. Mr Benney said that when he looked at the building and saw reflected in it the co-operation on the part of all concerned he wished the same spirit could be demonstrated up in ’ the hills where the miners were work- | ing It was when the section was bare that interest,’determination, and energy had been required. It was then that the Mines Department had been asked to help. He congratulated those responsible for the building, and said that though all were proud of it, the praise went, to a few. The Department regarded it as an investment, for it had much property in the borough to be protected. He hoped it would be a building in which much work would be done in the future as well as now. Mr C. J. Strongman, Superintendent of State Mines, referred briefly 1 fo the work of forty odd rears which I had made Runanga the best mining township in New Zealand. He paid a tribute to the work of Superintendent Luff in connection with the new building. Mr W. H. Parfitt, Chairman of the Greymouth Fire Board, said that firemen gave the service of their lives, and he referred to the willingness to serve of auxiliary firemen under the E.P.S. scheme. If there was anything the Greymouth Brigade could do to help the Runanga Brigade it would do it. He congratulated all on the new station, and hoped that, the borough would progress in the future. Mr Robbins commented that he had never before at a public meeting seen so many, children as were present that afternoon. He expressed appreciation of the hospitality that had been extended to him on the West Coast, Sand, saying that Runanga was on a beautiful site, with beautiful houses and surroundings, expressed the opinion that there was no town to equal it in these resnects. He was sure that

if many of the things he had heard about Runanga were known to the people of* New Zealand it would stand high as an example of how a town should be conducted on humanitai jan lines. He had had a long association with fire brigades, and no one, he said, gave service more in the interests of the community in which they lived than firemen. He congratulated tlie Brigade on its station, saying that he knew of no town that had a building which could compare with this one and the way in which it had been built. The £llOO debt was nothing, but the people owed it to the Brigade to equip them. He wished the town, the district, and the Brigade good luck. Mr J'. B. Kent, a member of the Grevmouth Fire Board, congratulated all who had had anything to do with the building. It was an example ol the spirit of Runanga—by the people for the people. Mr G. E. English, President of the State Miners’ Union, congratulated the members of the Brigade on their effort,, and the people of Runanga on having such an asset. It indicated that the people could deliver the goods when they wanted to. He was sure the Brigade would be able to prove its merit. Mr Benney had compared the effort made in building the station with that made by the miners in the hills. If the men did not make the same effort in the mines, Mr English said, there must be something wrong, and he left it to Mr Benney to find out what it was. Mr C. Preston, President of the West Coast Fire Brigades’ Association, said that it was a pleasant surprise to see the building. The Runanga Brigade was doing very well indeed. . Superintendent L. L. Ross (Hokitika Fire Brigade'), Fireman T. Blithall (Blenheim), and Superintendent C. C'oxall (Reefton), and Rev. W. S'. Brettell and Rev. Father J. Houlohan, for the churches, added their congratulations. Superintendent Luff said that there was no need for him to say how proud he was to see all present to witness the opening of the fire station. He thanked all for the help given in connection with the Brigade. There was not one bit of the work that could have been carried out by himself without the help of members of the Brigade. Mr O’Brien said that it was a very, great pleasure to represent Mr Webb and bring a message from him. Mr Webb was getting on well, and should be out of hospital in a week or so. Mr O’Brien said he had been associated with the town for many years, and for 15 years had lived in it. During the years the people of Runanga had built up a reputation for themselves throughout New Zealand. It was in this co-operative town that they had helped to build the programme for New Zealand which the whole world was admiring to-day,. It was in the buildings round about that they had cherished the ideals which some had later attempted to put into practice when they gained the Treasury benches. Mr O’Brien spoke of the spirit in Runanga which had seen t.o it that those in need or bereaved were provided for. By a scheme of co-operative effort the spirit of Runanga went on—the spirit that was exemplified in the building they were opening that day, Mr Luff had ask- ' ed for hose for the Brigade when 1 none was available, but by persistence he had got it. The Borough Council had once asked for a water supply, but were told that there was no hope, and it was only when the present Government got in that £24,000 had been spent on providing one. It was money well spent, as the people were entitled to it. They had once said. Mr O’Brien continued, that if they became the Government they would put men who were socialists in charge of the mines, and he referred to many who had graduated from the Socialists or the Social , Democratic Party to positions of responsibility in the industry. He felt pleased that the co-operative civic spirit was still going on. He remembered working bees that had done many jobs around the town. He congratulated Superintendent Luff' and his men on what had been done. It was a wonderful job of which thev should be proud. When he looked back nearly 40 years he felt that he would have liked to do the whole job again. It had been worthwhile, because they were doing something, accomplishing something, getting somewhere. The people who had left Runanga had carried its spirit with them. Congratulating the Brigade again, he said that people would find a mighty lot of happiness working together for the good of all in a town like Runanga. Mr O’Brien then asked Mr Jack Walton, one of the pioneer firemen of the district, to open the doors of ' the building. This was done to the 1 accompaniment of applause. Many of those present took the op- . 1 portunity of inspecting the station,

and afternoon tea was served, with ice-cream for the children. The Runanga Band played selections during the afternoon. DETAILS OF THE BUILDING. The new fire station is situated in McGowan Street, between the Gymnasium Hall and the Seddon Memorial Library. It was designed and its erection supervised by Superintendent Luff, and in addition to the members of the Brigade, the Borough Foreman Mr T. Merriman, and Mr A. B. Ward assisted with the work. The building is a two-storey one, 26 ieet high and 60 feet deep, and has a frontage of 34 feet. It has concrete foundations and the construction is of timber and Gibraltar board sheeting, with cream concrete stucco on the exterior of the walls. In the front corners of the building on the ground floor are ollices for the secretary and the Superintendent. Behind these is the engine room, with the Brigade s present, equipment—hand-reel, hose, couplings, stand pipes, branches, helmets, and vulcaniser. It is hoped to purchase an engine shortly. At tne rear of the engine room are a living room with a fireplace and two bedrooms. A kitchen, showers and conveniences will be provided later. on the uooer storey is a large social hall which* is panelled for the lower six feet in figured rimu. It has a tneplace, and the floor has been •Bachinsanded for dancing. A piano lias been provided by members of the Brigade. Attached to the social hall are a storeroom and a kitchen, and there i. <- • concrete exit stairway as well as tne main stairway from the engine room. Alongside the building is the bell tower. The materials from which it was constructed were formerly part of the aerial standards for the old Blackball mine coal conveyor, they were dismantled and taken to Kunanga by the men of the Brigade. A concrete footpath has been provided along the front of the building. It is hoped later to build a small station at Dunollie, and a smaller bell is available which will be installed there. The building and equipment are valued at £4700. This was provided by the Mines Department grants, £1170; Runanga Borough Council. £234; donations by Runanga residents, £146; raised by Brigade, £215; grants of hose and other equipment, £7OO. and voluntary labour valued at £1035. The balance of £llOO is owing for materials. BANQUET HELD. On Saturday evening a banquet was held in the new station, Superintendent J. L. Luff presiding over a large attendance. Apologies for absence received included one from Hon. J. O’Brien. After the toasts of the King and the Chairman had been proposed, the toast of the United Fire Brigades Association was proposed by Deputy : Superintendent Almond, and was responded to by Superintendent White (Greymouth), and Foreman G. Mc- • Enaney (Kumara). Visiting Brigades : was proposed by Secretary D. Hilderbrand, and responded to by visiting delegates from Reefton, Hokitika, i Westport, Raetihi, Kawa Kawa, Te- ■ muka, Denniston, Whakatane, Grey • Railway, Blenheim, Kumara, Cobden i and Greymouth. The toast of Gov- [ erning Bodies, proposed by Foreman ' G. Sparks, was responded to by Mr - J. Hadcroft (Deputy Superintendent ; of State Mines) and Mr C. Barrow . ■ (Deputy Mayor). The Runanga Fire • Brigade was proposed by Mr C. H. t Benney (Under Secretary of Mines), . and responded to by Superintendent i J. L. Luff. Boys Overseas was pro- _• posed by Fireman A. Stewart and res sponded to by Sergeant Heward and > Mr L. O’Loughlin. Hon. Members t and The Ladies was proposed by Firey man G. Anderson, and responded to by j Mrs E. W. Kennedy (Maypress), and Mr T. Howard. , During the evening brief addresses were given by Hon. B. C. Robbins, ' M.L.C., and Mr J. Kerr. _ The Mayor presented three-year I service certificates to the following: ~ Foreman G. Sparks, and Firemen J. e . Airns, R. Airns, A. Stewart, A. Fisher, C Fisher, J.. Boote and G. Anderson, e Items were contributed by Mrs G. e Wylde, Misses N. Hadcroft and Worj gan, and Messrs R. Armstrong. J. 1 Horrack, J. Grant and J. Callinan.

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