FIRE BRIGADE SOCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13055, 21 December 1905, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADE SOCIAL.

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS AND :; .... - .'CERTIFICATES. •■ '•' - - The "City .Fire Brigade entertained the hon. members of,the city brigade and the .officers of the " suburban brigades at the,;, stationhouse last evening. " There was a large at''tendance, the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) being in the chair. '. The spacious social hall ; was very prettily decorated, and the long tables, which were crowded, occupied three ' sides of the hall.' Superintendent Woolley . occupied the ; right of the Mayor, and the - Rev. W. E. Gillam (the chaplain) the. left. Among the guests' were: Dr. King (hon. surgeon), Captain E. Davis and Captains • Strudo (Devonport), Cowan (Parnell), Cook (Newmarket), (Archhill), and Williams (Mount. Eden), and Mr. Porter (Newmarket workshops), Captain Field, representing the insurance companies.Before the festive proceedings began, the , Mayor witnessed a turn-out of the brigade, in which the engines were out in the street 'and the men in their places inside of ten seconds from the time of the call. The • Mayor expressed his great pleasure at being present'at a gathering in connection with .an institution of so much importance to the welfare of the city, and one of which the city had so much reason to be proud. Firemen had at all times done the best they couid with the means at their disposal, but in former years the inadequacy of those means seriously handicapped them. That, however, was a thing of the past; the appliances were now up to date, but tho Council was still adding to them. With the new motor waggon that the Council was going to procure, it could be claimed that Auckland had a fire brigade which, both in efficiency and equipment, was second to none south of the lino. (Applause.) He testified to his sense of the value of the services rendered to the city by Superintendent Woolley, whose ability, energy, and zeal had so much to do with bringing the brigade to its. present, satisfactory condition. He (the Mayor) congratulated Mr: Woolley on his recovery from the injuries he recently received in the discharge of his duty, and trusted that for the future he might enjoy immunity from the perils incident to his profession. (Applause.) The Mayor said ]he knew that the recreative side of the fireman's life was not neglected, but the members displayed as much zeal and energy in their work as they did in their recreation. He learned that there was a small debt on .'the billiard-table, which it would give; him much pleasure to liquidate, as a mark of his appreciation of the efficiency of the 'brigade. (Applause.) ' Dr. King, in proposing the toast, "The Auckland Fire Brigade," referred to the splendid work done by the brigades in the past, with antiquated appliances. There were very big fires in those days, which put the firemen on their mettle, and they came out of the ordeal with the greatest credit, 'i , .

: The Rev. W. E. Gillam said it was a) great delight to him and to his church officers to have the firemen at St. Matthew's every year. The City of, Auckland was justly proud of its brigade, which turned' out as quickly as any brigade in London or elsewhere. '.'•

. Mr. John Patterson, as -..in -city councillor, said it was with great pleasure that he.testified to the harmony which existed between Superintendent ■ Woolley and his men. ' , ' • ' •' .■ '

Captain Davis add the brigade had the unbounded confidence of the citizens of Auckland, and of the insuraaice companies. The, evening was spent in social intercourse and*' harmony. Ex-Foreman G. .Moore proposed the toast of the "United Fire Brigades' Association," which, was responded to '■■ by Captain Strude, the chairman of the association's accident society. ;" Life . Honorary Members" , was proposed v by Foreman M. A. Cauley, and responded to by Ex-Foremen .Brakiiigan and Harkins. " Suburban Brigades" was proposed by Superintendent Woolley, and responded to ■•by, the captair- of the brigades. " The City Brigade " was proposed' by Captain Field, and responded to by Superintendent Woolley,, and "Ex-Superintendent Hughes " was * proposed by Superintendent Woolley. ' 1 The following assisted with vocal and instrumental selections: Messrs. W. Skerrett, T. .'Brough, Williamson, J. Murphy, McAuliffe, J. Lewis, Stackpole, and Purcell.;

The following is ■ the list of presentations •made by the Mayor:— G. Moore, 'gold star on completion of 25 years' service; Foreman W.' Williamson, '■: 2yrs bar on completion ~of 18 years' service; Foreman P. Moulden, 2yrs bar on completion of 17 years' service; Fireman F. Gladding, 2yrs bar on completion of nine years' service; Fireman 0. Fenton, medal on completion of five years' service; Firemen A. Joynt and T. L Kell, certificates on completion of three years' service. Life honorary members' certificates were also presented to^ the following: Foreman H. F. Gladding, 19 years' service; Foreman W. Harkins, 13 years' service; Firemen J. Clark, 25 years' service; K. ; Robertson. 17 years' service; W. Colgan, 14- years' service; A. Prit'chard, D. Townsend, G. Gyde. M. R. Smyth, and F. Findlay, 13 years' service; G. Findlay and G. Turner, 11 years' service; T. Moulden, 10 years' service; J. Armstrong, B. Bevage, and A. i Freeman, nine years' service; 0. Flan-, nerj, seven years' service; J. Chambers. J. .Hunt, W. Ford. A. Pilline:er, and A. Gladding, five years' service; W. Skerrit, honorary seat vice; S. W. Barnett, U.F.B.A. certificate, three years' service. •