Hawera Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2460, 22 June 1893, Page 2

Hawera Volunteer Fire Brigade.

The annual general meeting of the > brigade was held in the- .Borough Chambers on Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance of memberet*Sk and a number of business people were present. Captain Johnston ocoupied the chair. REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET. Secretary Bobbins read the annnal report, which set out that there bad beeu the usual number of meetings with a fair average attendance of members and the efforts for financial existence, in the way of getting up entertainments, etc., which by the way, has come to be looked upon as part of a fireman's duty in most of out oountry towns. The membership has somewhat de* creased lately, through members removing to other districts and there are vacancies for four.

Acting upon the suggestion in _ report the fee for honarary membership was reduced to 10s 6d and the- town canvassed for members, with tbe result that 20 gentlemen joined, whioh has had the effect of enoonraging the working members.

Tbe calls out have been very few, viz :_-> August 3rd, 1892, Mr T. Malooe's chimney; May 14tb, .1893, Royal Hotel (total destruction); June 11,1893, Hawera Hotel (slight damage). The new engine and are in good condition and working la'Ksfaotorily. Th* email engine is at present ussier*, for want of hose. It would be a wise action on tbe part of tbe Borough Council to famish j hose for thiß engine, as it would be found of great service in case of an outbreak of fire in any part of the town where the buildings are thick. The brigade are still in want of an ) undress uniform, and it will be for this 7 meeting to" say if they think they can go-' in for them. ••

The concluding paragraph was "It is with feelings of the greatest regret, that I have_ to state, id consequence of bueinesi necessitating my sojourn for the most the time away from Hawera, I shall hava to cease from being a working member of your brigade." Treasurer Wilson submitted his balance sheet for the year, whioh showed:— Receipts, £126 2s 2d; expenditure, £80 158 8d; balance (with outstanding aocounts), £&5 6s 6d. - After a little conversation about equip* i ping the old engine, of whioh everyone seemed in favor, Mr Davidson moved the adoption of the report and balanoe sheet. He said tbe brigade had done good work, and the assistance of the oounoil. With tw6* engines the brigade could render excellent

service. Mr Sutton seoonded, and spoke warmhS of the services of the brigade. V Report and balance sheet adopted. ™ ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Before the election was proceeded with, Captain Johnston said be intended to sever his connection with the brigade! owing to not being able to give the time which tbe duties deserved. He was sometimes out of the district, and thai lost touch with the members. He thought the brigade should get someone in town who could devote more time to practices, dtc# He was sorry to sever his connection, M he had always taken a lively interest m its welfare. He had to thank the secretary and treasurer for the courtesy extended lo him at all times, and also tbe officers and men for the manner in whioh they had discharged their duties. He bad never to give an order a second time* He would always take a great interest iff) the institution, and would remain an honorary member (applause). * + The election resulted:—Captain, EsutT MoNiven ; first lieutenant, Foreman Wilson; second lieutenant, Branohman E. Mornssey; foreman, Fireman A, Coffey; first branchman, Fireman Armitage; second branohman. Fireman Whiting; secretary, Fireman Q. Evans*| treasurer, Lieut. Wilson (re-elected); standing committee, Firemen Arthur, We Evans, and Gunn. It was decided that two auditors would be appointed at the monthly meeting preceding the next annual meeting. A PRESENTATION.

Fireman C. Evans referred to the regretted resignation of their secretary. Mr Bobbins had filled the office sinoe June*. 1882, and was the mainstay of the-* brigade since it started. He would askj Mr Major to address the meeting. Mr Major said that, at the request ol the members of the Fire Brigade, he bad undertaken the pleasant duty of presenting a medal to the retiring secretary as a token of the esteem in which tbe members held him, and as a mark of their appreciation of his services during bis long period of secretarial duties. It was rarely that a man undertook the secretarial duties for so long a time, as they were always arduous; and it was due to Mr Bobbins' efficiency as a secretary that the brigade had been safely piloted through all its ops and downs. He referred to Mr Bobbins' election as a vice-president of tbe New Zealand Fire Brigades' Association* and said that every Hawera man must have been proud when the Press Association telegram came through saying that Mr Bobbins had received such a high honor. The token was a medal for' five years' service, and three olasps representing two years each, or eleven years in all. He hoped Mr Bobbins would live long to wear it, as he richly deserved it. He trusted tbe new secretary would emulate tbe lata secretary's aotione, as the brigade was one of the most important institutions in the borough. (Loud applause.) Mr Robbins said recipients on occasions like this often expressed surprise, which was not always genuine, but this was tbe greatest surprise he had bad in bis life* and be had had a few. He had not heard the faintest whisper of it; and if anyone was proud and pleased he should beat the manner in which he had been spoken of that evening. The first night be came to Hawera, a meeting of tbe brigade was held in the institute, and he was asked to act as seoretary pro tent, and thig became permanent, and brigade bad many up| and downs, but the work had been ft pleasure. He was greatly pleased at the number of business people present, and thought tbe brigade should new lease of life from that night, whlcbanght to augue.wellforthe suocess of the institution. With reference to bis eleotion _s vioe-pre* sident of the New Zealaud Fire Brigades association, he was pleased that Hawera should have a vice-president, and the honor was due to tbe place and the brigade he represented. The utmost courtesy bad been shown bim as secretary, and all the officers had worked hand in band and in grand accord. He thanked the brigade for their mark of esteem; and said that although severing his connection as an active and working member, he would always be an honorary member, and always be always be ready to do when duty called him. (Loud applause.)

LIFE MEMBERS.

On the motion of Lieut. Wilson, the late captain and secretary were eleoted life members of tbe brigade. Tn a S? for hon °--ary members wasfixsd at 10s 6d. fc THANKS. ~^^ Votes of thanks were passed to thou who had become honorary members; and* to the Borough Council for assistance to the brigade. NECESSARIES. Fireman Arthur moved that the Borough Oounoil be asked to supply new Owriea ° a rack fot ar *k* •«•••--