FIRE BRIGADE DINNER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XI, Issue 878, 23 December 1876, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADE DINNER.

The Annual dinner of the members of the Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade took place at Penney's Hotel on Wednesday night last. The chair was occupied by Captain Gorrie, who was supported on the right by Mr Fell, the newly tlected Mayor, and on his left by Mr Johnson, ex-Captain of the Brigade. Amongst those present were Messrs Hodson, John T. Robinson, Bliek, Bythell and others. An exoellent dinner having been done full justice to, and the cloth removed, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk with heartiness. The Chairman then proposed the "The Army Navy and Volunteers." Those, he said, were bodies which we as Englishmen should always honor. Great improvements had of late years taken place m the Navy, and England no longer boasted of her wooden walls but of her iron ones. In consequence of the power of bis Country's Army and Navy a British subject was always respeatod. In connection with the Army and Navy he thought the Volunteers should always be mentioned, because though they had not the training nor the strict discipline of regular soldiers they were at the same t ; me a great force. Volunteering was a good thing also because it taught the youth how to use arms iv the defence of his country. The system of teaching boys the use of arms was begun originally m Prussia, and that it had had a good result had been abundantly shown. The body to which he and many others who were present belonged, though not Rifle Volunteers were still as they belonged to a defence departmeet they were Volunteers m one sense of the word at any rate. The toast having been drank very heartily. Mr C. J. Rae responded for the navy, He had served m Her Majesty's Navy, and could say that it was an institution of which every Engl ; shm»n might justly feel proud. Mark Tw-in had remarked that this was a "gilded age ," but he was of opinion that it was an "iron age." They had now iron roads, iron horses and iron ships, m fact nothing but iron would now go down, at the same time they had heard of iron ships going down too far and carrying with them many brave and gallant mtn into a watery grave. He hoped tint the Lords of the Admiralty would take better care m future, and not drown Her Majesty's subjects like so many dogs tied up Id a sack. The navy had carried civilization to many lands, and had put down oppression wherever oppression existed. He believed that a soldier was every bit as good a man as a sailor, although he bad heard old •' salts " refer to the soldiers as dogs. He would however, say nothing about them, but would leave the toast to be responded to by somebody else who knew more about them. Mr Johk T. Robinson responded for the Volunteers. He had never seen active service like his friend Mr Rae, but he knew that he and the other volunteers would not be behindhand if there was any fighting to do. Mr J. E. Hodson proposed "the Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade" coupled with the name of Captain Gorrie. He had certainly seen larger Brigades than the Blenheim one, as he had seen the best m England and New Zealand at work, but he, had never seen men who were more ready to obey the call of the fire bell, he had

never seen men who were quicker m handling their apparatus or m getting lo V.-ork. The exertions of the Brigade at the last fire re'Sectcd the greatest credit on the body-. There wiis shortly to be a Fire Brigade coin petition at Dunfcdin and he Was Very sorry that the Blenheim Brigade would not be represented. He had been invited to go down and act as one of the judges, but having a great deal of private business to attend to he had had to decline to go. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, three cheers being given for Captain Gorrie. Captain Gorrie, m responding, thanked the company for the compliment they had paid him. In replying, he wished to say with reference to the ex-Mayor (Mr Hodson) that he was a gentleman who had ever since he came to the place taken the greatest interest m the Brigade. As head of the Borough Council be had come forward to the assistance of the Brigade, and had supported it through thick and thin. In fact he had been the mainstay of the Brigade. When it was almost destitute of working apparatus the Mayor and Borough Council had m a most generous manner come to its relief, and acted most liberally. The Brigade was now, happily, tolera-s bly well equipped. They had two engines and a considerable quantity of hose — enough, m fact, to enable them to play upon any fire m any central part of the town of Blenheim. Just before the last fire the Borough Council had assisted them to get some new hose. The members of the Brigade worked well on the occasion of that fire, and he was proud of them proud to occupy the position of- their Captain. Some of them had worked with him from the very commencement of the Brigade, and he could say that he had never found one laggard among them. He regretted that some of their best men had had to leave the brigade. For instance .they all missed Lieutenenfc Falconer who was a good and able officer, and one who was ever ready to take the command iv the absence of his superior officer. Mr Nixon, another really good man and one who haddi«tingishedhim=elfgreatly. And thenanother of their members they had to regreb the loss of namely, Mr Johnson, their jate Captain. As Captain, Mr Johnson had seen the Brigade through many a struggle. About this time last year the Brigade turned out proudly with their new engine,, thinking and hoping that they were able to conquer any fire which might occur m Blenheim, but they had seen fire after fire break out and though thay had done good service yet they had not done as much as they could have wished. In oth j .r places where there was a good water supply the building which first caught fire was seldom saved, and be thought it reflected credit on them when they remembered that when the fire occurred m Market Square they saved the buildings on either side. He would say that there was too much expected from the Brigade for the amount of support they received from the public. When the fire* ell rang the public expected the Brigade to turn out and extinguish the fire, but they forgot that they were so few m number as to be almost incapable of manning the enrjjies, The public should remember that the brigade gave their services gratuitously for the purpose of saving life and property. They rf quired more appliances and the public, m whose interests they worked, should supply their want. At the same time they were indebted to sundry members of the community for assistance. The Borough Council the Government and some of the Insurance Companies had from time to time given them monetary help. With more appliances he believed they could save more property because they would get a larger, and better company and be prepared for any emergency. Messrs N. Edwards and Co, ahout this time last year and Litchfield and Son had recently made handsome donations to the Brigade for the assistance they had rendered at fires, and m the name of the Brigade he thanked those firms. He trusted that he would be as good a Captain as they expected to find him, and he hoped to hold the position for a long time, but if the members did not consider him good enough ho would be glad to make way for a better man. He would like to see the names of many of those present on the list of either honorary or working members. The Brigade had agitated the question of establishing aj Fire Police, and the matter was now under the consideration of Mr Seymour as the Executive Officer of the Province. He thought that the honorary members might very well undertake the duties of Fire Police, and prevent pillage at fires. The Chairman next proposed "The health of Ex-Captain Johnson." Captain Johnson had been a good officer for several years, as was shown by the efficient state of the Brigade at the present moment. He (Captain Gorrie) could not mention half that gentleman's good qualities, but he could say that it was through him that the Brigade was m its present high state of efficiency. Captain Johnson had worked himself up with the Brigale, standing by it through good and evil report, and had now left it when with the means at his disposal he could make it no better. He (the speaker) had tow a most pleasing duty to perform. He had, m the name of the Brigade, to present to ex-Captain Johnson a time-piece, which he hoped he would accept m the spirit m which it was given. It would serve to keep him m remembrance of the fact that he had once been associated with the Brigade. He could say no more m the ex-Captain's favor because they were all intimately acquainted with him. He would simply ask him to accept the clock as a slight token of the esteem m which they held him. Mr Johnson had raised himself frouit he ranks to the highest, position they could bestow upon him. tt was to be hoped that his successors would be as good and efficient officers as he had beeu, and that they would show tin same deaim for the eood of the Brigade as he ha I done. If h j (Captain Gorrie) was nearly so successful he would be a proud man. Tie toast was drunk enthusiastically, and cheeis were given for Mr and Mrs Johnson and their family. At the allusion to the timepiece the Chairman caused the Brigade flag to be drawn aside, and disclosed a handsome clock hanging on the wall. This was presented to Mr Johnson who, like a great many others m the room had no idea that such a thing was there. It i* an ebony regulator clock, manufactured m Berlin, having a con pensating pendulum and the caaa ia glass on three aides.

Ex-Oaptain .sfoiissOx said ! _ihat Svords fsiled him to express exactly bis feelings on the present occasion, as he was totally surprised by what liad taken place. He had been au active mem; ber of the Brigade for a long time, but he bad never anticipated the present moment, and 'lie did not think that anybody else anticipated it till a few days ago. The presentation they had made to him that night was an event wbbh would never fade from his memory.. There Were reasons why that could, not he. For a "reat number of years hejiad been m the public service m one capaciiy or another and had always done all that he found to do with all his might, but up to the present time his work had never been appreciated ko far as he knew. That was a pitiable confession to make, but he had never felt that his efferts were really of much benefit so far as outward appearance went. Age was now creaping upon him — he had nearly completed his first half century — and he was now looking forward to taking the rest of his life m a quieter way. Captain Gorrie had said that the present efficient state of the Brigade was due to him (Mr Johnson), but it was due m reality to the, members of the Bngade themselves, aided by certain friends who ha I come forward to assist them. As regarded their efficiency he might stat^ that after the Ballarat demonstration our Brigade tried the same feats that the Ballarat men went through, aud it was found that they did m 70 seconds what the Ballarat people did m 60 seconds. Circumstances m a small place like this, where the community was small, and where the -people had so many other things to do, had prevented them, from carrying out their original idea of getting up a Brigade contest amongst ' themselves, but on one or iwo occasions lately they had discussed the possibility of some of their ! members going down to Dunedin to take part m the coming competition, but they found they i could not send anybody owing to want of funds, j and it could not be expected that each member ' would pay t'lo out of bis own pocket to go down. • He was glad that he was leaving the Brigade m an efficient state. The apparatus was m good condition, and there were a lot of good men to I work it. He had no doubt that his successor, I Captain Gorrie, would make a g^od officer. His 1 Worship the May6r had authorised him to say that it was his intention, if he were accepted, j to become a. working member of the Brigade. i (Applause.) He would say, before resuming his chair, that he had never had any trouble with i the Brigade. The members, when at a fire, had : always obeyed his orders cheerfully, and consequently there had never been any trouble. The Brigade had no regular course of drill like the volunteers, but he would back the Brigade against any body of volunteers for discipline. He was sorry the Brigade had not met with that amount of support from the public which it should have received. : H* held that the public aud the Insurance Companies ought to contribute tnwsrds the support of the B igade. Out of the ten Insurance Companies m the Town only three had subscribed anything last year. Iv conclusion he said he would be quite ready to assist either at fires or m any other way he could. The Brigade would always have his sympathies, aud he would not require thoir present to remind him that he had once been associated with them. He might never again take an active part m the Brig ale, but he hoped to see his sou, when he was old enough, m it 3 ranks. He thanked the company for the way m which they had received the toast, aud the Brigade for their present. (Applause). Mr Bythell proposed " the Mayor and Corporation." which was warmly received. . His Worship the Mayor (A G. Fell Esq.), responded. He congratulated the Brigade on the improvement it had made during the last year. On behalf of the Corporation he thanked the Brigade for the services it had rendered m connection with the last three fires. The Brigade's motto was •' United to Save," aud he hoped the members would become even more firmly united than they were. Mr Knight proposed " The Town and Trade of Blenheim." He said that though both Town and trade had suffered by the late fires he had no doubt that times would be as good as ever m a few months. Mr John T. Robinson, Town Clerk, responded, and m doing so gave a short history of the progress of Blenheim during the many years he had been connected with the place. He did not take by any means a gloomy view of the future. With regard to the Fire Brigade he would say that it was very efficient as well as self-sacrificing. He thought the Brigade expected rather too much from the Insurance Companies, because as a rule the Companies had taken too heavy risks m the most dangerous places m the town, and they were very heavy losers by the recent fires. Mr Blick proposed "The Insurance Companies," which was drank heartily. Mr Fell responded. He reminded those present that the Insurance Companies had lost i heavily lately by the fire m Blenheim. It was a s proof of the good will of the Brigade that although they were not assisted by the Insurance i Companies they still continued to give their services to the public. The toast of "the Press," Was proposed by i the Chairman, and responded to by Mr John- ; son. Mr Leckner proposed " the Ladies," and Mr • Kitchen responded. Mr Johnson proposed the health of Mrs Fell i and Mrs Hodson, who had assisted the Brigade. The compliment was acknowledged by Messrs ; Fell and Hodson. In the course of his remarks ■ the latter geutlemm offered to become an honorary member, and thought Mr Johnson might ; get up such a body and head them, since he had retired from tho working body, i Mr Johnson thanked Mr Hudson for remindi ing him of n point: he had omitted to mention. He would be very willing to join a body of Fire Police, and would be gad to see Mr Hodson acting m that capacity, and he would work along wiih him shoulder to shoulder. Mr SiLVIOS proposed the health of Mr John T. Robinson, the Fire Inspector, and Mr Robinson responded. Mr Robinson proposed "the Chairman," which was suitably responded to by Captain Gorrie. The tna^t of "The Host and Hostess," which was resp >udid to by Mr Penney, terminated the jjrooeediugs.