QUARTER OF A CENTURY'S PUBLIC SERVICE

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 22, 23 October 1930, Page 7

QUARTER OF A CENTURY'S PUBLIC SERVICE

Superintendent T. W. Slinn

Honoured.

1 'At the invitation of the Lower Hutt Borough Council a large company attended a complimentary social at jthe Fire Brigade Station last Thursday evening to do honour to Superintendent T. W. Slinn, on the completion of his 25 years of service with ttfe Lower Hutt Volunteer Fire Brigade and who for 24 years has held the position of brigade superintendent. The Mayor, Sir Alex. Roberts, presided. There wer also present Mrs. Slinn, the Mayor of Petone (Mr. D. McKenzie), Mr. W ; Nasii M.P., Mr. W. Jordan M.P> Mr. E. P. Bunny (a formW Mayor), Mr F. S. Hewer, (Chairman "of the River Board), Mr. E. P. Hollands (manager Hutt Valley Power Boar 4), Mr. A. IT. Wallace (postmaster), Supt. J. P. Gaynpr (Petone Fixe Brigade), Mr. G. A. Mackenzie (Wellington Fire Brigade), Messrs G. H. Guthrie, W. H. Wakelin and Lieut Slinn (Upper Hvutt Pir^ Brigade), Messrs Dow and Mlingford (Eastbourne Fire Brigade), a numiber of past and present memibers of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade and Ors. A. Mcßain, F. Campibell, D. S. Patrick, A. Grierson and A. E.. Carver. Letters of apology conveying congratulations to the guest of the evening were read from Dr. Hector, the first honorary surgeon to the brigade, and Col. T. W. McDonald M.P., who was Mayor of Lower Hutt at the time of the formation of the .brigade. Mr. W. ,T. Strand (exMayor of Lower "Hutt) and Mr. W. F. Sturman (town clerk of Petone).

After the loyal toast had been honoured, the Mayor proposed the toast of tihe guest of the evening and on behalf of the Council and burgesses of the borough offered him their sincere congratulations on the completion of• 25 years of service and hoped that he would be. spared to serve for many more years to come. '' There are many ways in which a man can render service to the community, said Sir. Alex., but I think I am correct in saying there as no way in which a man can render greater service ciaan the way in which ■Superintendent Slinn has rendered service during the last 25 years. His is a very difficult way of rendering public service. In 25 years there have been 1170 musters of the Fire Brigade, including 286 fires and false alarms, and Superintendent Slinn has attended 1102 of them. That, is a. wonderful record. He has missed 68 musters only in 25 years. That is a record both he and the borough may well be proud of." Sir Alex said he wished Superintendent and Mrs Slinn long life and happiness. The Council Js only complaint—-and t>he speaker made the statement in all sincerity —was that the superintendent was too modest in his requests to the council. The council recognised that the efficiency of the brigade was due to the tact and energy of Superintend

ent Slinn. He also made reference to the fact that the Superintendent had been very ably supported and assisted by his wife.

The remarks of the Mayor were very ably supported by Mr. E. P. Bupny who held the position of Mayor from 1908 to 1914 and. related some amusing incidents in connection with his first real acquaintance with the ■>■ brigade, when it was called out to a fire at his own house. He also traced the growth of the brigade to its present importance and spoke of the valuable work done by the late Mr. Henry Baldwin in found-

ing the brigade.

Sir Alex, then pinned on Superintendent Slinn's »tunic the 25 years gold star service medal and presented him with a handsome silver Tose bowl witlh the following inscription-^-' *To Thomas William Sflinn from the Mayor," Councillors and Burgesses of the Borough of Lower Hutt, in grateful recognition of 25 years service with the Lower Hutt Volunteer Fire Brigade. Service

! Ml Sliun, in thunking the Mayor, said he commenced and had given his service without. thought, of. reward of any .kind,, and was Very proud to think: h!Bs "services had been appreciated, i&t iad been., hard work, but he had loved it. In the beginning the men "cadged '' the tijifhev and iron and built their own Kttle shed, which " did duty for nrajajT; years. .They: started without equipment, and .borrowed a manual.engine from Petone/ and it was many year?, b.ef ore the eou-neil gave them one of their: own;. The present water «»» ticu'ktion scheme iiad teen suggested by himself to. Mx. W. T. Strand, who •hail pushed it forward. . Mrs. Slinn, who was loudly cheered, also expressed her thanks for the beautiful gift. Councillor F. Campbell, in proposing the toast of "The Lower Hutt Volunt.' r Fife Brigade," said that there was noj institution in the borugh th«.t enjoyed the confidence of councillors anore than the lire brigade. , No requests received greater consideration from the Cotmeil than those from tbe •brigade. That was because the Council knerw it had in Superinten-dent Slinn an expert in charge of the brigadeIt knew that no request would cotae from' him unless it was necessary. One could not help but commend Mm on the way the brigade had evolved until to- * day it was very efficient and second to ; none in New Zealand for its size. Deputy-Superintendent Doran replied to the toast, and, said that he could honestly say the brigade was comprised of men of excellent character, men who could be trusted to go anyttrliere. . That was true of the brigade f rxxm its inception. Or. Patrick's toast of 'The Visitors' •was responded to by the Mayor of Petone (Mr. D. McKenzie), and Mr. F. S. Hewer proposed "The Lower Hutt Borough Council'/ and in reply Chr. Mks£Bain spoke of the fine work done througth. the foresight' of / ex-Mayor "W. T. Strand and the officers of tke borough. i Superintendent Slinn paid a tribute f to the work done by the late Mr. H. Baldwin (one of the foundation memfbers and its first secretary), Lieut. Wildsmith, Messrs Sam and ■ Steve iStrand, Messrs Ben and Tom. Fleet (Mr B. Fleet is still a member of the briigade, and will be due to receive his 25 years/ medal on 31st October), Deputy^ Superintendent Doran (who had 231 years' service, 16i years as secretaiy and 15 years as deputy), and his own sony Lieut. Slinn; of the Upper Hutt Brigade, who had had 13 years* service. ~ ■ )T2ie health of the Mayor -was proposed "by Mr; W. Nash, arid Sir Alex. Roberts replied. : ,' i: , During tie evening Ifessrs "WUtew Davies, L. Assheton Harbord, "Win Hancock, and Barton Ginger rendered much appreciated items.