NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9168, 17 March 1910, Page 6

NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATION.

LAYING OF FOUNDATION STONE

Doubtless owing to the strong counter attractions of the Australian cricket match and the tennis tournament there : was but a limited attendance at the laying of the foundation etone of the new fire station in Cuba Street yesterday 'afternoon. Those present included the members of the Palmerston North Fire Board, the P.N. Fire Brigade, Mr D. Buick, M.P., and Mrs Buick, and Mr R. Essex, a late member of the Fire Board.

The ceremony of laying the stone was carried out by the chairman of the Board, Mr E. J. Armstrong, who in the course of his subsequent remarks said that they were but celebrating the progress of the preliminary portion of the station which, when completed, lie hoped would be a credit alike to the town, the brigade, and the Board. Referring to the Brigade the chairman said the essence of a brigade was not in what the public said but in what was done by ! the men, and it was something the i same as regarded the Board. ProI ceeding the chairman made reference j to the good work of the Superintendent of the Brigade, Mr Warner, i whose work had won the hearty ap- | proval of the Board ever since his appointment. They had every reason to be satisfied with his own efficiency and that of his men. His control of his men won their unstinted praise, whilst the members of the Brigade itself *were 'entitled to considerable praise for the spirit in which they attended to and carried out their duties. Despite the few shillings paid to them by the Borough, they were a volunteer brigade in fact; it was not a question of money with them, but on the contrary, their whole heart and soul was in the business. If "it was not they would not do the work they did and in the manner they did. —(Hear, hear.) Reference made to the prompt appearance of the Brigade at outbreaks, and a case illustrated of the good work following upon their arrival at a fire—a case that had come under the personal notice of the chairman. He always did and always would maintain that the Palmerston North Brigade was as efficient as any in the country. Passing on the chairman' alluded casually to the many financial difficulties the Board had experienced before they arrived at the present state of progress with their building, and in this connection he expressed his sincere thanks to the Wellington members of the Board without whom they would not have progressed as they had. Without them they would not be in the position in which they found themselves to-day. The aim of the Board in the future would be to,bring their buildings and plant absolutely up to date. In an allusion to the presence of Mr Essex, the chairman said the present Board had but taken up the work where Mr Essex had left it, and it was to him that a great deal of the praise for the results achieved was due. He was practically the father of the whole business, and they were simply carrying on the good work commenced by him. In conclusion, the chairman thanked the representatives of the Underwriters' Association for valuable assistance to him personally. Their practical and long experience in these matters had been of the greatest good to the Board —(Applause.) The chairman then declared the foundation stone well and tru,ly laid, prior to which, however, he was presented by the builder, Mr C. W. Blackbourn, with a beautifully chased silver trowel bearing the following inscription:—"Presented by C. W. Blackbourn to E. J. Armstrong, Esq., Chairman of the Palmerston North Fire Board, on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Palmerston North Fire Brigade Station, 16th March, 1910." The handsome gift.was acknowledged in appropriate terms by the recipient, and cheers were then given for the architect, Mr L. G. _ West, Mrs Blackbourn, and the chairman. An adjournment was then made to the Brigade station, where afternoon tea and light refreshments were served. "

• Subsequently the toast of the "Fire Board" was proposed by the chairman and duly honoured. The toast of "The Brigade" was proposed by Mr D. Buick, who contrasted present facilities and plant with the provisions for fire prevention when he first knew the town. Reference was also made to the long period that had elapsed since there had been a serious conflagration in Palmerston, due in several instances to the splendid "saves" effected by the Brigade. The toast was responded to by Supt. Warner, who in the course of his reply referred to the practice of some employers of stopping the wages of the members of the Brigade whilst tjiey were absent from business at fires. The remuneration paid to the men by the Board balanced to some extent this reduction, which the Superintendent considered an unjust one, seeing that the men worked in the I interests of the whole town.

The health of the architect (Mr L. G. West) and builder (Mr C. ~W. Blackbourn) was proposed by the chairman, who acknowledged on behalf of the Board the satisfactory work of each.

Mr West replied, and in doing so eulogised the work of the builder, also the clerk of works, Mr Perrin, each having been most conscientious in the discharge of their duties. Mr West also regretted the absence of the local fire veterans, ex-Supt. Tingey, from the proceedings, which closed with the customary compliment to the chairman.