VALEDICTORY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 70454, 3 October 1900, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

Last evening the members of the Hawera Fire Brigade tendered a farewell smoke concert to Lieutenant Saunders, who has been a worthy and hard-working member of the valuable institution for some years. Th£ brigade mustered in force, and several outsiders attended by invitation. The chair was.occupied by Capt. J. E. Wilson, who had'on his right the guest of the evening, and on his left Mr F. S. Cooper. After the viands had been attacked in determined fashion, and the customary loyal toast had been honoured,

Mr L. O. Hooker gave a song.

Mr B. W. Sargent proposed the toast of " The Hawera Fire Brigade." He considered it an honor to have been asked to propose the toast. He had taken an interest in the institution, which was more worthy of support than perhaps any other in the town. Alter referring to the work required of the members, he announced the pleasing fact that last year the brigade had received record support. In a short tune, when the water supply was available, he hoped to see the brigade as competent as any in the colony. He thought every member should be proud of their past records in competitions. Lieut. MoNiven returned thanks. He alluded to the handicap under which the brigade labored in the past through lack of water supply, but hoped that would soon be a thing of the past.

Song, Mr Fraser. Fireman Evans proposed an important toast, " Our Friends," by which he meant those who supported the brigade hi liberal fashion. He coupled with the toast the names of Messrs Cooper and Hooker, who had always done their best to aid the institution. The latter gentleman had, since his advent to Hawera, bean very