Hawera Volunteer Fire Brigade

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3155, 23 June 1892, Page 2

Hawera Volunteer Fire Brigade

The annual meeting of the above was '\ held at the Boto|ghpijamberß on Wed- > needay night. All tbe members of the brigade were pre&nt, but next to none of It the general public ; Captain Johnston in the chair.

BKPOBT. The tenth annual report prepared by i the Hon. Secretary (Mr. B. C. Bobbins) *~ recorded that the interest taken in the Brigade (by the members) had been main, tamed throughout the year. That all practice and general meetings had been well attended, and membership Had kept up to the required number, within one. the total being 19. The " oalls out " had been considerable, but none of any serious consequence. "The past year has been somewhat important inaßnraoh as the Brigade has mosc materially added to its plant, by the addition of one of Merry weather's best 16 men manual engines with a large quantity of hose and other *> eear, at a oost of £163, tbuß making the equipment of the Brigade much better than it has ever been. lam pleased to state that this large addition to our plant \ is nearly all paid for, only a balance of * £23 remaining. I may also state that the whole of the plant has beep invested in the Borough Council, in trust for the citizens ot Hawera. Thus, an actual present of close upon i>2oo has been made to the Borough Council, through the ex ertions of the Brigade, besides attending to fcheir duties as firemen, bo considering JL all the circumstances connected with tfaa > working of. a volunteer brigade in I country town, I think we have evarv reason to be pleased with our year's work " Tne balance-sheet showed that £75 Ju|a been raised, and the raising of this amount had taken up much of the time of members which could have been more nsemllv devoted to practice and general worWnJ of the brigade. "It seems wrong that members of a yoluntee* brigade Should have to be devoting their time to devisine ways and means for the carrying on of th« V finanoial affairs of their brigade. To m! > mind the ways and means should be pro. vided in a direct way by the inhabitants of the place where the brigade exists, ana it is, therefore, wxth extreme pleasure I refer to the fact that a strong effort is to be made to have the Fire Brigade Bill passed this session of Parliament This bill makes provisions for the maintenanoe of brigades by grants from the general Government, Insurance Com! panics, and local governing bodies. Our member has promised to give the bill his hearty support Of all the brigades I kBOWk BOW of w e 0 »n show the smallest list of honorary members! The year has been marked by a mos cordial and pleasant feeling between the memDers of the brigade." . BALANCE SHEET. Mr. Wilson, treasurer, read the balance \ sheet, which showed the total receipts to ' have been ,6120 ; expenditure ,8107. Then* is a balance in bank of about £13, and a fewshihnßsinband. The Eltham pionio brought in £36 155. * Report and balance sheet adopted. ELECTION OF OSTCCEBS. Captain Johnston was unanimously reelected captain. Mr. Bobbins spoke highly of Captain Johnston's past service.. It had been rumored that he would be resigning his position, but he (Mr. It) was very pleased that snofa was not the Captain Johnston, in reply, said it had always given him pleasure to work with members, and he eulogised the good feeling which existed on all aides. The new bill, if passed, was likely to make things easier for fire brigades. Mr.MoNiven was elected firßtlieatenanfl^ » and Mr, Boyd second lieutenaot ; fore. \ man, Mr. J. E. Wilson ; first branchman, M f# # 1 M Pte^ nßwls Becond bwnebman Mr ' E -, Morn8 Bey ; oommittee of manage! ment, Messrs. Armitase, Parkinson, and 0. Evans ; 'treasnrer, Mr. Wilson. Mr. B. C. Bobbins was onanimoMlv re-elected secretary for the tenth year Members epoke highly of his services; HONOBABY MEMBERS. On the motion of Mr. Bobbins, it wag resolved to reduce the tee of honorary membership from 21s to 10s 6d; and to have circulars printed inviting bu&H < and townspeople to become members. < VOTES OF THANKS. A vote of thanks was accorded Messrs. Bobbins and Pierard for monetary and JnergS!" 1106 rende^«Prooaring A vote of thanks was passed to the officers for their past servicei. NOSTMPATHT. Several members spoke of the want of public sympathy toward the brigade? The t members had devoted their tfm c and largely increased the value of the plant I while the townspeople had given by no means proportionate belp. y Mr W. Clarke, one of only two or threa r h e fi p t r hBeDh BeDt X?l MM u pr . eßent of th ° I**B*2s he thought the brigade was to blame if the they ought o have done. If the brigade desired assistance and more members it was clearly the duty of the brigade tog" SaX" 001 for fche paople t0 "*«5 donerh&duT berah6ldthattheyhad