THE FIRE BRIGADES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9700, 14 April 1892, Page 6

THE FIRE BRIGADES.

MEETING OP THE DEMONSTRATION COMMITTEE. A meeting. Of the General Committee of the United Fire Brigades’ Demonstration was held in the City Council Chambers yesterday evening; present—Mr W. Harris (Chairman), Messrs D. Craig (Hon Treasurer), C. M. Gray, W. G. Garrard, J. Watts, H. Atkinson, P. Caterer, J. Taylor, B. Green, H. Martin, G. Puller, M. Sandstein, T. Russell, D. Fraser, W. B. Hobbs, J. Kennedy, T. Hemsworth, Superintendents Turton and Andrews, Lieutenant Smith (Hon Secretary) and Foreman M'Millan (Assistant Secretary). The members of the Christ church’Fire Brigade were also present. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs S. Maiming, W. R. Mitchell, C. Lonisson and E. C. Bishop. The Chairman gave some statistics of the recent demonstration. He said that thirty-two Brigades had entered for :the competitions against twenty-nine at the demonstration in 1888. Twenty-two of these Brigades took prizes, against ten at the former demonstration. The smartness of the work done was very satisfactory. Particularly was this the case in the one man manual engine competition, won by Branchman J. Fraser, of the Christchurch Brigade, iu the quickest time on record in New Zealand, having beaten the best previous record by 2fsec. The Christchurch City Brigade had gained seven prizes, three first, one second and three third, making 30 points, the cash won was £36 10s, and the value of trophies £33 10s, mating a total of -270. The innings of the other Brigades had been as follow : —Gisborne, five prizes, two first, three second, 18 points, cash £24, trophies £9 6s, total £33 6s. Napier, two prizes, one first and one second, 11 points, cash £7 10s, trophies £lO, total £l7 10s. Rangiora, two prizes, one first third, 10 points, cash £2l, trophies £5 ss, total £26 ss. Spit, three prizes, two first and one third, 10 points, cash £l9 ss, trophies £l4, total £33 ss. Ashburton, two prizes, one first and one 8 points, cash £l4 10a, trophies £5 2s, total £l9 12s. Wellington, two prizes, both seconds, 7 points, cash £l2 10s, trophies £2 10s, total £ls. Naseby, one first prize, 6 points, cash £ls 15s, trophy £7 10s, total £23 ss. Port Chalmers, one first prize, six points, cash £5, trophy £lO, total £ls. Dunedin South, one second prize, five points, cash £lO 10s, trophy £1 10s, total £l2. Wanganui, one third prize, four points, cash £5 ss. . Palmerston North, two prizes, one second and one third, two points, cash £G 15s, trophy £1 10s, total £8 ss. Timarq, one second prize, two points, cash £2. Marion, oyic second prize, two points, cash £1 10s. New Plymouth, one third prize, one point, cash £2 10s. , Gore, one point. The results of the Consolation were —Eoslyn, first, £10; Timaru, second, £5; Hokitika, third. £2 lOs.jThe tug-of-war had been won by the Soifth Island, whose representatives thus gained £lO. It was very satisfactory that the prizes had been so widely' distributed, and he thought, from what be had heard, that the visitors had been well satisfied, and did not grudge the Christchurch Brigade the first position it had gained. The Treasurer, Mr D, Oraig, read an abstract of the balance-sheet, which showed that the receipts had been £713 18s lid, including art union £325 3s 6d, booths £32 10s, gate money £24 13s sd, subscriptions £331 12s. The expenses amounted to £632 14s Bd, including prizes £213 14s, ground and works £77 Ga 3d, art union £lOl 5s Bd, torchlight procession £45 la 6d, banquet £53 13s, printing and advertising £47 Os Bd, bands £22 13s, miscellaneous £72 Os 7d. The credit balance was £Bl 4s 3d. The balance-sheet had been audited free of cost by Mr E. C. Bishop. The Chairman said that_ while the receipts of the last demonstration had been about £2l leas than those of the former one, the expenses had been about £l5O more. This excess of expenditure had been caused partly by the factftbat the Committee had not received so many gift prizes for the art union, and had had to purchase more. The bad weather had caused the demonstration to be protracted for another day, which had also added to the expense. The result, considering the very unfavourable weather, was extremely satisfactory. The Committee had decided that the’ balance in hand should be held in trust by the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, to be used for the benefit of the Brigades in some manner which might in future be decided by the Executive. Mr Harris concluded by moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr C. M. Gray seconded the motion, and said that,like the Chairman, he considered the result highly satisfactory. The large amount of subscriptions proved that the public was always willing to come to the support of the Brigades. The motion was then carried unanimously. The Chairman said there were certain individuals whose services deserved to be recognised by the Committee. Foremost among these was Lieutenant Smith, who had discharged the duties of Honorary Secretary in a most able and satisfactory manner. He had, therefore, on behalf of the Committee, to request Lieutenant Smith to accept a small memento of the demonstration.

Mr Harris then presented Lieutenant Smith with a gold Albert chain with a pendant, a Maltese cross bearing the inscription, “Presented to Lieutenant Smith from the Committee as a memento of Fire Brigades’ Demonstration, 1892.” Lieutenant Smith heartily thanked the Committee for the present, and said that ho had been very happy to do his bast to secure the success of the demonstration, and to benefit the Christchurch Brigade. The Chairman moved a. hearty vote of thanks to the public for their liberal contributions, the City Council for the use of rooms for tho meetings, the Press, the bands for their free services on the night of the torchlight procession, the judges, timekeepers, starters and all others who rendered gratuitous services. Superintendent Turton seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the Chairman and executive was then passed by acclamation, on the motion of Superintendent Turton, seconded by Mr D. Craig. The meeting then closed.