LYTTELTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9494, 17 August 1891, Page 3

LYTTELTON FIRE BRIGADE.

PRESENTATION OP MEDALS. •' On Friday evening tlio members of the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade and their friends assembled at the Borough Council 1 Chambers to enjoy a social evening. About fifty persona were present, including' the whole of the members of the CouncilJ Ills Worship the Mayor, Mr J. B. Milsom, occupied the chair. After the' usual toasts had been disposed of,>' the Chairman presented long service! medals to the following members Foreman Owen, Fireman J. Childs and 1 J. Graham, each eighteen years’ service; Superintendent Toomey, Firemen S. Norris, E. Wells and T. Markka, each fourteen years; Firemen S. Bamford, T. Thompson,: H, Graham, E. Treleaven, A. Foote, J. Knowles and Foreman A. Ehind, for terms: ranging from five to twelve years. The; medals were presented by the Council and' were of silver, and nicely inscribed with; the name of the recipient and the number of years’ service. Certificates for three years’ service were presented to Firemen Gibbous, Baker and Semmene. Ia : making the presentations, the Mayor re*! ferred to the splendid work done by the, Brigade whenever the necessity arose, work: which could only be done by constant attention and practice. He was sure the Brigade, now that it bad been placed ou; such a good footing, was in every respect *■ credit to the Council and the Borough.' Nearly all the Councillors spoke in high: terms of the way ;the members of * the Brigade fulfilled their self-imposed duties,; and of the utmost good feeling existing; between the Council and the officers of the. Brigade. Councillors Webb and Allwrigbt' remarked upon the difference of the position of the Brigade now and when it con-; sisted of but few members, whose only appliance for: fighting fire was a small; hand-pump., The toast of the “ Lyttelton,! Volunteer Fire Brigade,” proposed by! Councillor Laurenoon, was responded to by Superintendent Toomey, who thanked; the speakers, on behalf of the Brigade, for their kindly remarks. The members felt very grateful to the Council for the; way they had met them, and there was notj the least doubt that the Brigade was now! on a better footing than ever it had been.: The toast of " The Visitors ” was responded' to by Superintendent Turton, of the: Christchurch Brigade, who expressed great 1 pleasure at being present. “ Our Absent l Friends ” was coupled with the names ofi Firemen T. Thompson, H. Graham, and' S. Bamford, three old members, who, by a strange coincidence, had with another fireman, nearly lost their lives when working at the Nettie fira| a few months ago, and all of whoin had' now left the Port. During the evening,; ex-Superintendent E. Derbidge, who has recently resigned, was presented with 1 a handsome gold Albert bearing \he following inscription: Derbidge by members of the Lyttelton! Volunteer Fire Brigade.” Ex-Superin-tendents S. Derbidge and J. Sowden; added considerably to the evening’s; amusement by telling some amusing and; interesting experiences of the early days of the Brigade. Some capital songs were! sung, and a most enjoyable evening was spent by all.