ELTHAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 June 1926, Page 9

ELTHAM.

FIR|E BRIGADE,

ANNUAL, ALEE TING

(Front Our Own Correspondent.) There was a full attendance of firemen and a good number cf citizens present at the annual meeting of the iiuthasra Fire Brigade, held la«t alight in (the fire station. Superintendent Nutt a l presided. The repent stated that .the brigade had received six lire .calls during the year, one of which; was .the fatal fire m Bridge Street, when four lives were lost. The brigade had mustered 130 tiines out of ,a. total of 04 parades. They commenced the year with £3l in hand and had concluded with a. balance ot £3B. The total income was £3OO Bs. 2d and the expenditure was £268 8s 2d. la .addition to. the balance of £3B, there was also an amount of £43 in the savings hank, which was earmarked for demonstration purposes. The chairman amoved the adoption o.f the report and balance-sheet, which was seconded by Fireman Burrows. The Mayor (Mr, I. J.. Bridger), in speaking of the report, said that he would he failing in his public duty if he did not convey to the brigade the thanks and congratulations of the citizens for their very successful year and for the valuable service .that they had as a. body, rendered tq. the community. He referred to the long: service many of the .hrigademen had rendered, particularly the Superintendent, who had only one year to serve and then he would be entitled to. the- gold star. Also Deputy-Superintendent Murray and Fireman Burrows. The report was unanimously adopted. The Mayor was then invited to take the chair and conduct the election of officers, which resulted as follows: First foreman, T. Glentworth; second foreman, N. Philopbts • secretary and treasurer, O. Libeau; standing committee,. Firemen Burrows and G-lent-wiorth, the foremen and secretary ex officio ; auditor, Mr. -T>, Clement. The. Mayor then presented Fireman L. Page and Fireman G. IV. Burrows with their five years’, service medals, and also Freni,an Bornblow with an addition,a Itwo years’ .service bar. Superintendent N'uttal .presented Fireman Nees. with the “Fake” Gap and gold medal, won recently in ,competition Work, and in doing so explained that the conditions of the competition were for night work and were very severe. Most of the men jh.ad taken part, Fireman Nees winning; by 42 seconds. The .meeting was then continued in the Foresters’ Hall in the. form of a farewell to the late chairman of the Fire Brigade, M, B. IT. Thomas, The Mayor presided. After the loyal toast had been honoured, Superintendent Nuittal proposed the toast of “The Mayor and Councillors”. He refered to the excellent spirit . oxi (between! tlio .present council and the brigade. . The Mayor briefly replied, and stated that the council recognised the, fine work the brigade was doing, and at was a pleasure for the council to assist to; the best of its ability, having due regard to both ratepayers and the brigade. He also was glad to. learn that the Fire Board was being appreciated by the brigade. Councillors Rigg, Ricketts and McKay also responded.

At this stage Superintendent Nuttall presented Mr Thomas with a. salid howl from the members of the brigade, stating in doing .so that the brigade had greatly appreciated the work and interest that Mr Thomas, as chairman, had always shown them. The toast of “Eltham Fire Board” was then proposed by the Mayor, and responded to by Mr Thomas. Mr Thomas, who was received with hearty applause, thanked- the brigade for their fine and greatly-esteemed gift. He had only tried -to do his duty, and was pleased' to know that hh had given satisfaction to the brigade. He also referred to the work of the boardi generally, and said that his work had given him much pleasure. He greatly regretted the severing of his connection with t-he board, and would ever remember his happy associations with it.

The toast of “Taranaki District F.8.A.” was proposed by Deputy-Su-perintendent S. Murray, and responded to by Past-President C. Carey, and Mr A. Burrows. Superintendent Nutta-11, in presenting ex-Firemun E. Henn with a. beautiful table- service, referred to the great .service that the recipient had been, to the brigade during th© past nineteen years. He was very sorry that circumstances compelled him to resign from the brigade. He said that Fireman Henn would sooner go without his Christmas dinner than miss a fire or a parade. Ho had always been a keen fire-fighter, and had good command over the men under him. He was also thorough in his work and loyal to. the officers over him. Fireman Henn briefly replied, and said he deeply regretted having to leave the brigade. ‘‘The Eltham Fire Brigade” was. proposed by Mr E. H. Thomas and responded to by Superintendent Nut-tall. The toast of “The Press” and “The Chairman” brought a most -pleasant function to an end. During the evening Carey’s Orchestra enlivened the proceedings by its music.