OAMARU FIRE BRIGADE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13797, 6 February 1917, Page 3

OAMARU FIRE BRIGADE.

- MONTHLY MEETING. The iiiontlily meeting-of the Oamaru I Fire-Brigade was held last evening. Therp was.a largb attendance, and those present " included i'Honorary, Members Maiid, Gralmnie," and Booth, Supcvintendent.Jaines presided. Christmas' greetings were received from Hon, Surgeon Dr. Orb ell (Egypt) and.,Brauc}iman ; A. Boss (France).' •' llie resignation of -Fireman James : was accepted with regret and Fireman (J. Hamimll was granted leave of absence for three months, so that lie might, engage in liarvesting. ■_ ! Tlio following motion, ; of which notice had been given, was® nioveij by Deputy-Superintendent Couper: "That the motion passed at the meeting-of the ' .brigade on November 6th be rescinded/ , namely.- 'That the; brigade hold-' a competition in-Takaro Park on Thursday, February '22 next,' and that no competition be held by the brigade till sixmouths after peace has been declared." The mover said that the strength of the brigade had been so reduced by enlistments and removals that it- was impossible to make.any progress with the practices. They should not go before the. public with "an -exhibition which .must of necessity be on a rather low level. : : The chairman remarked that . men were continually dropping out, and it was impossible •to keep the teams together, . One or two members thought it would be a mistake to bar competitions till six months after the conclusion of the war,, and urged the deletion of the latter part of the motion. After somei further discussion, in which it was pointed out that it was not too much to assume that it would tiiko fully six months after the. wnr to get institutions like tlie liriVaffe oifa ,; pi'bppr basis'iwd'tiiat the resolution; if fotiird* inconvenient, could be rescinded, the motion was carried. Joseph May was elected fireman and T. L, Ealfe' and J, G. "Wallace were elected honorary members. -•It was decided to request from'a fireman, who. was absent without leave, his resignation before the next meeting of the brigade. The ■ chairman announced' that' Fireman Henry would be leaving on the. Bth, ami it was decided ito give Mm a sendoff on Wednesday evening. It was left vjtli the secretary to have the cloth of the billiard table tightened. The annual report and balance-sheet for the Southern Districts U.F.B.A, was laid before the meeting.. The following were nominated for the offices -named:—S.D. U.F.B.Ai: -President, Captain C, Lucas (St. Kilda); vice-presidents, De'puty'-Siiperi nt'emlent Couper (Oamaruj Ind Secretary Wells i (Invercargill); treasurer, Superintendent G. Laurie (Maori Hill); secretary, : Secretary D. M. Wildey (Mornington); ! auditor, Secretary E. J. Price (South i Dunedin). ' ■ United Fire Brigades Association: President, Captain R. B. I-Tean (Addington Railway); vice-presidents. DeputySuperintendent W. Couper (Oamaru) and Superintendent W, Keith (Hastings) ; treasurer, Secretary C. ■■ A. Osborne (Onelmriga); secretary,-Captain T." J. Watts (ftewmarket), , U.F.B.A, Accident Assurance 'Society : President, Captain' F. G. Griibb- (Stratford); vice-presidents, Captain 11. .Greatlieart (Eketalnma)' and 1 Deputy Superintendent W, Couper 1 (Oamaru); treasurer. Secretary C, A, Os'boriie (Onehunga); secretary, Captain T J. Watts (Newmarket).■■ " : ! A circular loiter Was received from ; thc TJ.'P.B.A. Stating that the thirtyieighfh aniiual ■ .'meeting ,'of.. delegates ;woiild "be held at Balclutlia on' ; March 12. - It was decided'to send a del'.'.gate. ! The chairman.'stated' thai a'practice would be held on-,Monday eihrnng next, wet or fine, and he particularly requestmembers'to attend. ; .'Acc'oii'nts amounting to £ll4s' 2d were passed for payment'. ■