BLENHEIM VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XI, Issue 876, 16 December 1876, Page 6

BLENHEIM VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

The Annual Meeting of the 8.V.P.8. was held at the Station on Wednesday evening last, when there was a very good attendance cf the member*. Captain Johnson, on talcing the chair, said that the meeting had been called to receive and consider tho Report for the year, which the Acting Secretary had been requested to prepare, and as neither himself nor any other person had seen it, the members would understand that if it required amendment m any particular it would be quite competent to do so on the motion for adoption. The following is the report : "To the officers and members of the Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade. _ " Gentlemen,— In consequence of the resignation m July last of your late Secretary, Mr C. W. Budge, the duty of drawing up your Annual Report has once more devolved upon me. The past year has been one which will long be remembered m Marlborough as the moat disastrous m the history of this locality, during which events have occurred that have severely taxed the resources of this Brigade, and powerfully tested the energies and efficiency of its members. The year 1875 closed with two fires m High-street within a week of each other, and the exertions of the Brigade were on each of those occasions crowned by succcess. and the enconiums of the public were conveyed through the medium of the public press. I have briefly, alluded to those events, as at the time of their occurrence the Brigade was naturally, and justly, proud of his achievements, and the present year was entered upon with an increased number on the roll. Mr George Kitchen was eleoted Secretary at the annual mesting m January, which

office be resigned m March. Mr C. .W. Budge who was elected his successor, first performed the duties on Monday May Ist which he continued to do until Monday June sth. In his absence Mr Rae was requested to act as Secretary, and on the 27fch July Mr Budge sent m his resignation. On the 22cd of August, the members of the Brigade mustered for the first time to conduct tha lemains of a conirado to the grave ; the engine " Dauntless" was used as the hearse, Mr •George . Stevenson kindly providing horses for tho occasion. Fourteen members including the Captain and Lieut, were present. On October 9th Lieut. Falcon tendered his resignation m consequence of leaving Blenheim, and on Nov. loth, Mr Thos. Warner, who had so long and ably filled the office of Eugine-keeper also resigned for the same reason. From these facts it will be seen that sorne,changes have taken place and vacancies occurred among the names on our muster roll, several others who joinedin the early part of the year having also fallen oft m their attendance or loft the town ; it is however gratifiying to know that several good and earnest workers have joiued our ranks. Iv consequence of the paucity 'of the funds your officers have not been able to recommend the celebration of the Brigade Anniversary as they djdau August last year. The poverty of the Brigade may be easily accounted for from the fact that out of ten Insurance Companies doing business m Blenheim only three have contributed to the fuuds of the Brigade this year, as follows, New Zealand Co. £5, South British £5, and the Standard £5. Every effort has been made by your officers to induce the Insurance Compauies to oome to some arrangement for a 731-0 rata contribution, which I regret to say have hitherto proved unsuccessful. The thanks of the Brigade are [due to the three Insurance Companies named for their constant recognition of the Brigade's services. It is now my duty to lay before you a brief record of the fires and alarms which have called upon you to exercise your courage and self denial. On Wednesday May 10th a fire broke out about 9 o'clock m the eveuing at Mr Atwood's farm, when three stacks of barley were partly consumed and damaged by water. Both engines were conveyed to the spot, a distance of more than two miles, the first one by manual labor only, as • horses could not be procured. On May 31, at 10 a.m. a fire occurred m the chimney at the rear of Hunter's the watch-maker's on the East side -of the Market-place. The Pesoverauce was quickly brought out but the use of the engine was not necessary. On Sunday morning June 11th, a^out 9 o'clock, a fire occurred at the residence of Mr Pirani, Seymour Square. On this ocoasion also there was a good muster of the Brigade and the engine taken to the aearest water supply, but f irtunately further exertions were not needed. On the 11th of August, about 3. a.m., a fire brokeout on the premises formerly known as McElwain's Telegraph Hotel which entirely destroyed that and the adjoining buildings aa far as the National Bank of New Zealand. Ewart's Hotel wa3 much damaged, as were also the Telegraph station and Mr Eccles' office m a lesser degree ; by great exertions the flames were arrested and those buildings preserved. On Saturday Sept. 30 a fire occurred m an unoccupied house, the property of Mr Hull. The alarm was given about 5 a. m. and 14 members of the Brigade with both engines were quickly on the' spot, and prevented the spread of the fire. Mr Eyles', Mr Carter's and Mr Hanger's houses were slightly injured. Mr Hull's house was entirely consumed. Early m the morning of Thursday Nov. 2 the largest and most destructive fire which has ever occurred m Marlborough was discovered m the rear of tho Government Buildings, the whole of which, together with twenty-two other buildings, were utterly destroyed. On the value of the books, papers and other records of a public nature which have been destroyed it is not necessary for mo to trouble you with any remarks ; with that, and also the amount of private loss and the hindrance to business you are all too well acquninted. I cannot conclude my report however, without expressing a regret which I feel assured is equally shared by the whole Brigade, at the general apathy of the public. and the reluctance of the Insurance Companies generally to support an institution whose only object is the general good. The Brigade have to thank the late Provincial Government for a donation of £20 m August last, the Telegraph Department m Sept for £10, and the Borough Council for two votes amounting altogether to L 29 9s 6d. During the past year the Brigade has expended on hose and other fittings L 37 14s, repairs to engines L 7 3s 9d, and a further account of L is still owing ; deepening and improving well L 9 9s 6d ; enlarging engine shed L 27 4s ; wages at fires Ll3 9s ; printing and advertising LI 6s; refreshments at fires L 2 Is ; postage, stationery, cheque book and other petty expenses L 2 6s 9d. The; whole of the items summarised above, together with salary of the engine keeper show a total expenditure of LI 2I 12s for the year. While regretting the loss of several valuable members I have to congaatulate the Brigade on the firmness with which many of ita oldest members still adhere to the corps m which they have long and faithfully served. Trusting that a younger and abler". hr,nd will permanently relieve me of a task which I feel I have but indifferently performed,— l have &c, Charles J. Rae, Treasurer and. acting Secretary. The report was received and adopted. Ac-, counts for the year were then read, but as the balance had been disturbed by?some cheques not having been presented, their passing was deferred to the next meeting. The nex-t business was the election of officers, and the Chairman was proposed for re-election. Captain Johnson declined to again accept office. In fact he considered he had earned an honorable retirement, haviDg been one of the founders, five of whom only remained, who started the Brigade six and a-half years ago. There were several reasons why he wished to retire. 'He was neither so young, able nor energetic as he used to be ; he felt that notwithstanding he had kppt a horse m readiness for night alarms, the office was m danger of falling into disrepute m his hands on account of living fully half a mile from the centre of the town, and make what haste he would he was necessarily late m reaching a fire m the night ; and

there was the danger that he might nob hear the bell ring at all. Such a contingency had not yet occurred, but it wa3 quite possible. He felt that it increased his anxieties, while he was inclined rather to sever his connection, not only for the sake of greater ease, but it had been stated by some that his connection did injury to the bodies or institutions to which he attached himself and took au interest m. The brigade would always have his sympathy and aid when necessary, and perhaps he could assist them more were the tie severed. For these reasons he would positively decline office. Lieut. Gome was then proposed, but he urged the Chairman to re-consider the matter and take office again ; but Mr Johnson said he had not hastily arrived at the decision to leave the brigade altogether. He had borne hia share of their labors for the period named, and he thought that was sufficient to say, but he had satisfaction m thinking that a degree of efficiency had been attained. Lieut. Gorria was then elected unanimously. The following offioers were also elected without opposition:— Lieut., Mrßythell ; Foreman Hook ana Ladder Co., Mr May ; Foreman Hose Co., Mr Kitchen ; Foreman Fire Co., Mr O'Neil ; Secretary, Mr Lechner ; Treasurer, Mr Johnson; Branchmen, Messrs Knight and Silvius; Auditor, Mr Eae. Captain Gorrte then proposed that a vote of thanks be given to the late Captain and the rotiring officers. In doing so he paid a high compliment to the Chairman, who had been their chief officer for about two and a-half years. Ho had truly earned his retirement, and he would carry with him the good wishes of the corps. The motion was carried with acclamation. Captain Johnson thanked them for the compliment paid him, and would take the opportunity of saying a few more words which he had intended to say before. One principal reason why he left them was the utter want of interest felt m- this arduous duty by the public and the Insurance Companies. For several years the Brigade had ' struggled against almost insuperable difficulties ; they had been reduced to begging from door to door for the meaas to obtain the necessary appliances. Recently for example, two officers spent the better part of two days, and all they got was about £3 ; then again their object was to Bave property when m danger from fire for the benefit of those occupying it, yet recent events had showed that they were saving property for the beuotit of Insurance Compares, only three out of ten of which contributed to the support of the Brigade, although they had been year after year pressed to do so. He declined longer to assist m what was but a fares under such ciroumstanoes. Several members expressed their regret that the Anniversary of the Brigade had not been celebrated, and after some conversation it was resolved that the offioers of the Brigade bo appointed as a Committee to consider the practicability of getting up a public 'dinner, and that they should have power to make the necessary arrrangements for carrying out the general wish of the members with regard to the same. The meeting then adjourned. The Committee Appointed as abora tookimmadiato steps to oarry out the resolution, and arrangements have been made with Mr Penney of the Royal Hotel.