SERVICES APPRECIATED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 March 1929, Page 10

SERVICES APPRECIATED.

FIRE BRIGADE, BAND AND, ORCHESTRA.. I - j PRESENTATION OF ADDRESSES. >’ The successes of the Hawera Eire Brigade at the .1929 demonstrations, unique in their extent and variety; the good position achieved by the Municipal Band in the B grade at the 1929 contest; and the honour conferred on the Schools’ Orchestra by being invited to Wellington to give a concert which was broadcast, were recognised during the progress of the Gymkhana yesterday, when the three institutions were given a public welcome and ovation and illuminated addresses present- 1 ed to the brigade and to the band. HONOUR TO THE BRIGADE. The Mayor (Mr E. A. Pacey), "who presided said that the citizens felt it was due to the Eire Brigade and the Municipal Band and the Schools’ Orchestra that their recent performances should be publicly recognised. Though the orchestra had not won any event, it had upheld the credit of the town, and had put up a very good performance under the conductorship of the same man who had control of the band, Mr 11. iC. A. Eox. To him was due great credit for all that he had done for the orchestra.

Referring to the Fire, Brigade, the Mayor said that the citizens were proud of the organisation and wished to recognise itjs, wonderful (performance. He presented Superintendent Morrison with an illuminated address, the text of which was as follows: — To Alexander Morrison, Esq., 'Superintendent, and Members of the Hawera Eire 'Brigade. Gentlemen, —At the recent Eire Brigades ’ 'Competitions held at Hokitika your teams made a Dominion record so far surpassing in merit any performance of ,the past that a meet-. mg of citizens of Hawera, presided over by tan Mayor, resolved to hand you in the form of this address a public recognition of your l great achievement. It has to bo emphasised that the success of your teams was not due to competition being weak, for in numbers and quality you competed against the cream of New Zealand’s brigadesmen, winning every trophy but one, and in that your man was a close second. Your brilliance in competition is reflected in the remarkable efficiency of the brigade as a whole, resulting in Hawera having an enviable experience in low fire losses. As a captain and competitor Superintendent Morrison has the unique distinction of leading teams to championship honours in five consecutive biennial competitions —Hillside _ Brigade twice and Hawera Brigade thrice —the victory excelling all others being that of 1929 at Hokitika. The brigade and the town arc fortunate in having such a leader. This record would not be complete without reciting your achievements at the 1929 Competitions, as follows: — Team Names. Alexander Morrison, Superintendent; Pierce Grace, Deputy Superintendent; Ernest _A. Hart, Fireman; James Zinsli, Fireman; Leslie 111. Warner, Fireman. SHIELDS AND TROPHIES AVON New Zealand Championship Shield, High Pressure Shield, Manual Shield, Simplex Shield, Camel Shield, Merryweather Shield, Jubilee Medals, The Duplex Cup. ] Hawera. R’ns-up. Points. Points. Championship Shield . 135 63 High Pressure Shield . 123 59 Manual Shield 39 26 Wishing you further competitive j successes and a continuance of the i goodwill of the public for your useful work in the community. For and on behalf of the citizens of Hawera. E. A. PACEY, Mayor. L. A. BONE, Chairman of Fire Board. B. C. BENNETT, President of Chamber of Commerce. His Worship then asked Superintendent Morrison to accept one framed copy for himself and the members; another for the Brigade. 'Superintendent Morrison, who was received with hearty applause, said lie wished to tender on behalf of himself and the brigade their best thanks to the Mayor and the people of the town for tne great interest always taken in the brigade and its actviities. The help always freely given to the brigade showed that the people had faith in them and members felt that they had been highly honoured to-day. They were honoured too in knowing that the public had confidence in them and they would always do everything possible to justify that confidence. PRESENTATION TO THE BAND His AVorship said it was also desired to acknowledge the success of the Municipal Band at the recent contest. It had done very well, though not quite so well as the brigade, nor did it win so many laurels, but he hoped the band would in the future join the ranks of the A grade bands and bring home many trophies. His AVorship then read the address from the citizens, the text of which was as follows: — To Lieut. Harry Cecil Anderson Eox, and the Members of the Hawera Municipal Band. Gentlemen, —At a public meeting of the citizens of Hawera, presided over by the Mayor of the town, it was resolved to place on record in tliis form the appreciation of your townspeople of the highly creditable position achieved by the Band at the recent New Zealand Bands’ Championship Contest held in Wanganui. In the face of strong competition vou were placed second in the aggregate for B. grade and third in the quickstep competition. To you, Lieut, Eox, in that in the comparatively short time that the Band has been constituted you have been able by your talent and unremitting endeavour to lead your Band to such success, is due public recognition of your achievement. To yon, members of the Band, similar recognition is due for your assiduous work and loyalty to your conductor. It is our earnest hope that the present happy combination of conductor and members may long continue; that the Hawera Municipal Band will retain its honoured position in the community as a valued public institution; that the success achieved this year will be an incentive to members to continue their efforts so that higher honours will be gained in the future; and finally that the goodwill of the citizens will over be yours as some recompense for your self-denying efforts to give pleasure and, where you have opportunity, to assist - worthv local causes.

For and on behalf of the citizens of Hawera: — E A. PACEY, Mayor. E DIXON, Citizens’ representative on and'Chairman of Band 'Committee. E C BENNETT, President of Chamber of Commerce. Mr Pacey said that, he had great pleasure in presenting one framed cop} of the address to Mr Fox for himself and one to the members for the band 10 Mr Fox, who was enthusiastically applauded on rising to reply, said that members of the baud thanked the people heartily for the token of the success of the band and of the orchestra. It was' gratifying to know that their efforts were so much appreciated. They had, he hoped, only started on their prize-winning career, and looked forward to the time when they, might bring back the A grade championship to the town. . „ , Mr E. Dixon, chairman ot the bands’ citizens’ committee, said that the presentation of the address gave him an opportunity of saying how proud ab wore of the band. He said the band wished to know it the people 'desired them to compete at the next contest in Dunedin, the expense of which would total £2so—and if they wished this, th 0 band would have to appeal to the people for help to raise this amount. The proceedings closed with three hearty cheers for the members of the brigade, band and orchestra.