HAWERA FIRE BRIGADE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 July 1925, Page 4

HAWERA FIRE BRIGADE.

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. ANNUAL MEETING HELD. After a most successful year, the annual meeting of the Hawera Fire Brigade was held o u Wednesday evening, Foreman H. A. Hurley presiding over an attendance of 15 members. The annual report, presented by Secretary J. Champion, stated that as a brigade composed chiefly of young men, they felt proud of the position tney held in having in their ranks the champions of New Zealand. Through the experience and training which their representative team had undergone at the hands of Superintendent Morrison, tour out of six of the champion shields had been captured at the Christchurch competitions. They trusted that they woud retain them at Dunedin next year. The brigade had a total membership of 19. There had been 44 musters, including 27 calls, with an average attendance of .17. Long service honours hatl been conferred upon the following: Fireman J . Champion, two years’* gold bar, completing 35 years’ service; foreman H. A. Hurley, two years silver bar, completing 23 years’ service; Superintendent A. Monrison, two years’ silver bar, completing 17 years' service ; Foreman I>. B. Henry, two years’ silver bar, completing 7 years’ service; Motorman G. Canty, ex-Foreman S. Smart and Fireman L. Tait, medals for. five years’ service. Letters of appreciation had been received from those from whom the brigade had received calls, and accompanying the letters had been cheques, amounting in all to £l3 4s. Those who had so contributed were : —Mrs Tonks, £3 3s; GoMstone and Patterson, £3 3s; Mr Collins, £3 3s; Mrs Harrington, £3 3s; Mr H. R. Kemp, £1 Is. The Winter Show Co. had also donated £3 3s and Mr J. N. Anderson £2 2s towards the brigade’s sociaj fu/ids. The annual ball had resulted in a profits of £4 7s lid, and thanks were duo to the ladie s and the local tradespeople. Mesdames J. Zinsli and P. Grace had collected honorary members’ fees totalling £39 16s 6d. Theatre duty donations had amounted to £22 18s 2d. In connection with competitions, Superintendent Morrison had put in a Jot of hard work, as had also DeputySuperintendent Grace, Foreman Hurley and Firemen Zinsli and Hart. Foreman H. A. Hurley had presented a silver cup for competition amongst the members, the event ,to he a fourmail engine event, to be comepted for every four months. One competition had been held, Deputy-Superintendent Grace*’s team winning. Other competitions had been held, a fine silver cup having been donated by Mr J., .G. Osborne, which was also won by DeputySuperintendent Grace. Mr L. A. JSone had also presented a medal for competition, and Messrs Curtis and Spragg four badges. A number of interesting hooks had been presented to the brigade by the Borough Library Committee and Messrs R. D. Welsh and J. Nielson. The sum of £6 6s had been donated in response to U.F.B, Association appeals, and assistance had also been given Fireman C. E. Kelly. Receipts for the year had amounted to £144 12s Id, which with a balance brought forward from the previous year had made a total of £351 9s. Bd. Expenditure had amounted to £277 8s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £74 0s lOd. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officer s resulted: —• Chairman, Superintendent A. Morrison ; vice-chairman, Foreman H. A« Hurley; secretary, Deputy-Superinten-dent Grace; treasurer, Fireman J.. Zinsli ; general committee, Foreman D. B. Henry and Firemen J. Champion, H. Hearn. H. H. Pettett, E. A. Hart, and L. Warner.

After the meeting an enjoyable evening was spent, the brigade entertaining members of the Fire Board, Borough Council and citizens. A toast list was honoured, and musical and elocutionary items were rendered by Miss M. Barnes and Messrs W. F. Fade, J. ; Neil son, Musdhamp, G. S, Mahoney, H. C. A. Foxi J. Birch, G. Raffills, and H. N. Lester.

The chairman of the Fire Board (Mr J. G. Osborne) presented the gold championship medals won by the brigade team at Christchurch (Superintendent Morrison, Deputy-Supterintendent P. Grace, Foreman H. A. Hurley, and Firemen J. Zinsli and E. A. Hart). He congratulated the team on their success, and mentioned that Superintendent Morrison had now led the champion team three times.