NELSON VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 223, 19 September 1868, Page 2

NELSON VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

The annual general meeting of the Fire Brigade took place yesterday evening at the Brigade Room, Harley-street, at 7 o'clock, and was well attended, 37 members being present. Captain Knight took the chair, and the minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, opened the proceedings with a few introductory remarks, alluding especially to the probability that the inauguration of the Waterworks would render the Brigade still more efficient than it had hitherto been. The Secretary laid on the table a tabular statement, showing the amount of subscriptions and fines paid by each member, the attendances at practices and fires,<fec. The meeting then proceeded to the election of the various officers for the present year. Captain Knight having retired from the room, the election of Captain of the Brigade, took place, Messrs Knight and Murfin being proposed, and tbe election having fallen upon the latter gentleman, he was declared to have beeu duly elected Captain. He then expressed his thanks for the proof which the members had shown of their confidence in him by choosing him to fill this responsible post. Two candidates were proposed for the office of Lieutenant — Messrs M. Sinclair and Wim&ett — the latter beiug elected; Messrs Cooksey aud Walton were each proposed for the Foremanship ofthe Hook and Ladder Company, the latter receiving a majority of votes. Mr Manson Sinclair was re-elected Foreman of No. 1. Hose Company, Mr Truman being also proposed, and Mr Robinson as Foreman of the No. 2 Hose Company, Mr T. Wimsett being also put in nomination. Messrs Hunter Brown, Thomson, and T. Wimsett, having declined to stand as Foreman of the Fire Company, the election lay between Messrs R. Gillespie and C. Bird, the former being chosen. Mr Lightfoot obtained a majority over Mr J. Harley, as Treasurer, and Mr J. Wigzell was re-elected Secretary, Messrs Brighton and Garrard being likewise proposed. Each of the successful candidates returned thanks for the honor conferred on him. Mr J. Harley then moved that a vote of thanks should be given to the late Captain, Mr Knight, for the services rendered by him to the .Brigade during the past year, to which, body he had belonged ever , dined its Ava org-iuiauioa, and which he

[ had always done his best to render efficient. (Cheers). The motion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr Knight returned hte most cordial thanks for the manner in which the proposition had been received. He had always felt it a duty as well as a pleasure to render his best services to the Brigade, though, perhaps, as a comparative stranger the public eye had been upon him more than might have been the case with others in the same position. The Brigade had met with but meagre support, but times were changed now, and he believed that a brighter future was in store for it. It had been industriously .circulated that the Insurance Compauies had -ex pressed themselves as not coutent with.lh.e, manner in which the Brigade was conducted, but their agents had positively denied this. Rather, however, than be an obstruction to the prosperous working of the Brigade, he would have resigned long ago. Mr Knight concluded by assuring the meeting tbat he would do his best, though in a subordinate position, to promote the objects of the Brigade, and sat down amidst much cheering. The Secretary then read the Balance Sheet for the half-year ending on the 16th of September, 1868, showing the income of the Brigade for that period to be £85 7s. 6d., which, with a balance of £24 4s. 7d., lying in the Union Bank, made a total of £109 19s. ld. A vote of thanks was proposed to the auditors, Messrs. A. Pitt, M.P.C., and J. Sharp, R.M., which was carried unanimously, as was also a similar vote to Messrs Hunter Brown and Cooksey, for the services they had rendered as officebearers during the past year, which compliment was appropriately acknowledged by both recipients. The committee appointed to take into consideration the proposed Anniversary Dinner, brought up their report, and, after considerable discussion, it was ultimately determined that the dinner should take place at the Trafalgar Hotel, on Thursday week, the Ist of October, at 8 o'clock, and that his Honor the Superintendent, or, in his absence, the member of the Executive next in rank, 'should be invited to take the chair. It was also determined that, if possible, a torchlight procession should take place round the city, before the dinner, and that the services of the Volunteer Band be engaged, if available. Messrs. S. Leaver and T. Garrett were elected members of the Brigade, and after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Mary Newland was charged with assaulting Anna Brooks on the 9th inst. It appeared that the belligerent parties were neighbors living in Grovestreet, in the Wood, and had had some words the same morning relative to an account in dispute. Mrs Brooks in direct terms impugned the veracity of the defendant, who immediately struck her in the face. His Worship, considering that the defendant had received a certain amount of provocation, fined her in the mitigated penalty of ss. with costs lis. 6d. Our readers will remember that we called attention a short time ago, to a pump of an unusually large scale, which had been constructed by Messrs Moutray and Barclay, of Bridge-street, for Malony's party on Addison's Flat, for mining purposes. We are informed that fhe pump reached its destination safely, and has fully answered the expectations formed of its powers, indeed so much so that orders have been received for the supply of two similar pumps for the same locality. A few days ago a resident in the Wood, named Richard Warner, met with a very serious accident whilst removing some trees in a garden in Tasman-street. It appears that in trying to cut away a young sapling, the knife slipped, and inflicted a deep gash in the calf of Warner's right leg. Medical assistance was at hand, and he was removed on the following day to the Hospital, where he now lies. On enquiry yesterday we were glad to flnd that the sufferer was progressing favorably, and hopes are entertained that in the course of a few weeks he may regain the use of the injured limb. We have been requested to state tha the valedictory address to the Bishop of Lichfield, on the occasion of his relinquishing his connection with the Anglican Charch in New Zealand, is now lying at;

' Messrs Morrison and Sclanders' oflice for the reception of signatures. The parchment lists distributed to the sub-commit-tees in the various provinces throughout the colony, will be when completed, bound together, and deposited in a box or casket, appropriately ornamented and of New Zealaud wood and manufacture, in which they willbe presented to the Bishop. Photographs of the address with a vignette portrait of Dr Selwyn, and views of the principal places in New ,Zealand, will be obtainable by subscribers of five shillings, which will be devoted to defray the necessary expenses of the testimonial. We yesterday visited Mr Bartlett's garden iv Washington Valley, where the camellia, which attracted so much attention last spring from the extraordinary abundance of its delicate blossoms in full flower. The little tree, though presenting far more than the average number, of flowers, is, however, not so noteworthy this year as when we last saw it. Another cause also militates against its presenting so beautiful a sight from the exuberance of its blossoms as it did last year. A large majority of the flowers drop off before arriving at maturity, from some cause which perhaps may be known to skilled horticulturists, although the tree has been carefully sheltered by an awning from the sharp frosts of the last month or so. We have received a communication from a correspondent under the signature of ' Dyke,' — iv reference to the letter signed ' One who has a son there,' which appeared in our issue of the 17th instant — who states that he served through the whole of the last campaign in Taranaki, ■and took part in three or four general engagements, as well as in many slight skirmishes. He therefore considers himself fully justified in maintaining, in opposition to * One who has a son there,' that the two companies of Bush Rangers, (some 120 men in all) who served in Taranaki from May 1863 until the latter part of 1866, were 'quite capable of thrashing any 300 Maoris, either in the bush or out of the bush, on the fern flats, or on any other place in New Zealand,' and he believes that ' the men now engaged in her Majesty's service near Patea could do the same if properly handled.' Our correspondent is of opinion that the policy advocated in tbe letter already alluded to, the taking possession of country some SO' miles in length by miles in width and holding it, shooting auy natives who tried to enter into or come from the bush, would prove a very expensive failure, because, in the flrst place blockhouses would have to be erected not more than a mile apart, and manned by a sufficient number of men to form a line of sentries, say 200 yards from one to the other. Our correspondent believes that this policy would result in the natives continuing quiescent until the Government thought proper to disband the men holding the blockh ouses, and then they would com* mence by shooting any unfortunate white men they might come across. 'Dyke' also remarks that the same bush that is cover for a Maori is cover for a white man also. ' Here, you young rascal, walk up and give an account of yourself. Where have been?' 'After the girls, father.' 'Did you ever know me to do so when I was a boy?* 'No, sir; but mother did.'