FIRE BRIGADE FOR HAWERA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 265, 23 June 1882, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE FOR HAWERA.

PUBLIC MEETING. Pursuant to an advertisement, about thirty persons assembled at the Town Hal£ on Wednesday evening last, for the purpose of considering the propriety of formiug a Fire Brigade in Hawera. The advertised time for the meeting was half-past seven o'clock, but it was considerably past eight before his Worship the Mayor, who had convened the meeting at the' desire of the Borough Council, obtained an audience sufficiently large to warrant his taking the chair. The Mayor, addressing the few who were present, asked them if in view of the small attendance the meeting should proceed. A show of hands decided that the meeting should be held, and the chairman called upon Mr. Prichard to move the following resolution : — " That in the opinion of this meeting, it is necessary that a fire brigade be formed for the protection of property iv Hawera." He considered the question of the formation of a fire brigade of paramount importance, involving as it did the safety of the lives of every man, woman and child within the borough. No time should be lost in forming a fire brigade for the borough, more particularly as the various Fire Insurance Companies had unmistakeably assured the Borough Council that they would not assist them to protect themselves, even by the presentation of a fire engine. It was plain, therefore, that the people in the borough must help themselves. It was objected that a fire brigade would be useless in the event of a conflagration occurring, because they had no water supply ; but this objection was an absurd one. There were plenty of wells in the place, and in any part of New Zealand it could not be urged that there was a want of water. The danger from fire to one and all was imminent, more particularly as they resided in dwelling-houses constructed of wood. Mr. S. Dixon seconded the resolution. Mr. G. V. Bate imagined that it was conceded by all that it was essential that a five brigade should be formed in the borough. Atany momenta fire might break out which would devastate the town from one end to the other, and it therefore behoved them to bestir themselves, and put their hands to the wheel, contributing muscle if not money. Mr. J. Claridge supported the resolution, aud suggested the establishment of tanks for the use of the brigade in various parts of the borough. He considered that wells 12 feet in diameter would prove efficacious. The resolution was carried. Mr. Richards moved the following resolution :— " That the Borough Counoil be requested to purchase an engine and other appliances for the use of the brigade and arrange for a supply of water in various parts of the Borough." Mr. Webb seconded tho motion. Mr. C. Laishley considered that the Insurance Companies should he asked to contribute towards the purchase of the necessary appliances for a fire brigade, such as an engine, ladders, hoses, &c, and he felt convinced that they would willingly comply.* Mr. Davis suggested that a committee should be appointed to carry out the proposition. The Mayor stated that ho was not in a position to commit the Borough Council, but he did not doubt that the Council would assist the movemont. Mr. Bate did not consider it fair to attempt to foist the formation of a fire brigade on the Borough Council. The ratepayers he believed, would willingly subscribe money for the support of a brigade. Mr. Max D. King pointed out that the Borough Council possessed the power not only to iuaugurate a brigade, but al6O to supply the necessary funds to keep it going. By all means let a canvass of the town be made for funds, but he would remind the meeting that unless the Council provided a supply of water, the best directed efforts of a brigade would be futile. He would support a resolution which would show the Council the necessity of purchasing fire brigade appliances. The cost of an engine would amount to about £125. The resolution was carried. Mr. King moved that Messrs. Bate and Dixon be appointed a committee to canvass tho town for subscriptions. Mr. Claridgo seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Bate had anticipated that the outcome of the meeting would have been the formation of a volunteer fire brigade. Mr. Suiter moved that the names of all those persons who were desirous of being enrolled as members of the proposed fire brigade be taken down. Several of those present enrolled their names. Mr. Watts seconded tha motion wlrioh was carried.