AUCKLAND FIRE BRIGADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13390, 19 January 1907, Page 8

AUCKLAND FIRE BRIGADE.

THE ANNUAL SOCIAL.

PRESENTATION OF DECORATIONS

AND PHIZES.

SPEECH BY THE MAYOR

At the City Fire Brigade barracks last evening a social was given to members of the brigade bv the Old Kirn Brigade Boys Association. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) occupied the chair. The evening was most enjoyable, and amongst those present were ex-Superintendent H. '. Gladding. ,1,,. K«jv. Oillam (chaplain to the brigade), and Superintendent Wool ley. The Mayor said it gave him great pleasure to be able to congratulate the Auckland Fire. Brigade on the admirable state of efficiency it had attained under its present .superintendent. A few facts and figure. illustrating the progress that had been made would he of interest. There had been practically no change in the nominal numerical ,trengtl» of (lie brigade; in 1901. when Superintendent Woolley took charge, it en. sisted of 40 men: it now consisted of 41. But whereas in 1901 the great majority of the members of the brigade were "auxiliaries" who worked at their own trades by day. slept, in their own homes at night, and only became firemen for the time being when they heard the bell ring, now nearly half the st«tt were permanent men. and even (he auxiliaries slept at the stations. He did nob wish, and bad no justification, to disparage the work of the old brigade: hut .it was obvious that they could not possib.y he so prompt in arrivii g at the -ecu.- of Return as the present one: and it could not reasonably he expected that men whose time and thought were chiefly occupied with other matters, however brave and enthusiastic they might.be, should a- a rule prove as efficient Bremen as those who had no other business in life. There had, moreover, been a verv great change tor the better in the equipment o, the brigade. In 1901 this consisted of four hand-reels and one horse-reel and ladder truck, and there were three horses at call in Messrs. Pullan and Armitage's stables; now they had two hand-reels, three horse-reels, one telescopic ladder, one steam fire engine, one motor tire waggon, and eight horses. Towards the end of last year the City Council invited the Harbour Board to take into consideration the question of joining with them in the purchase of a petrol fire engine: but, unfortunately, the Harbour Board declined to entertain the suggestion. He trusted, however, that the matter would not be lost sight ot, am would venture to commend it to the careful consideration of the Board, which, under the Act passed last session, would shortly take over the control of the fire brigade. The housing of the brigade had also received attention: the central station was opened m •July. 1902, and since then branch stations had been opened in iPonsonby and Beach [load, all fatted with the most up-to-date appliances. For the yeat ending -March 61, 1301, the total expenditure of the city Oil fire prevention was about £900: for the year ending March 31, 1906. the expenditure on current account was over £3100, in addition to loan expenditure out of the fire brigade loan of £12.000. floated in 1902. A large increase in the civic disbursements was not always a matter for congratulation: but he thought in this case few would deny that the money had been well spent. It was interesting to compare the figures with regard to their own fire brigade with those in connection with the brigades of some of the leading cities of the world. "London had one fireman to every 3710 of the population. Chicago had one fireman to every 1604 of the population, Hamburg had one fireman to every &00 of the population. Glasgow had one fireman to every 5132 of the population, and Auckland had one fireman to every 940 of the population. The cost per head of the population was: Glasgow, 6id; London, Is; Hamburg. Is 7>h Auckland, l?8d: Chicago. 3s od. During the year ending March 31, 1906, the brigade received 115 calls, of which 33 were false alarms, 14 for chimney-, on fire, .-even for gorse ami rubbish burning, and 61 for buildings on fixe, the damage in all easel being flight. This year's record would, of course, show rather more serious damage; but. no record could show the loss that the brigade hud prevented. As he had mentioned before, under the provisions of the Fire Brigades Act passed last session, the control of the Auckland Fire Brigade would in May next pass from the Auckland City Council to a board of seven members, appointed one by the Governor, throe by the insurance companies, and three by the City Council. While, from some points of view, he could not help regretting this severance of relation-, it was at least gratifying to feel that the Council would hand over the brigade and its appliances to the board in a thoroughly efficient and satisfactory condition, Ho expressed the hope that Auckland would win at the forthcoming carnival the championship of New Zealand. Prior to sitting down at the well-filled tables the brigade .gave.a display, turning out with the new motor engine and the horse reel. The Mayor expressed himself highly pleased with the display. During the evening a musical programme, was gone through, while the Mayor presented service bars "and prizes to the men. At the conclusion three hearty cheers were given for the Mayor, while Superintendent Woolley on behalf of the men thanked the Mayor and councillors for the £20 voted them to defray expenses to the brigade carnival. Several toasts were honoured. The following long service honours were distributed by the Mayor : Bars: Foreman Coplestone. Fireman .7. Champion. Fireman J. Spencer, Foreman J. McAuley, Fireman .T. Ornstien, Fireman F. Gladding, v ireman E. Cordcs, Fireman E. Moore. Silver Medal: Superintendent C. A. Woollcy, Fireman Win. Davis, Fireman Francis, Fireman Do Courcey. Certificates: Fireman George Moore and Fireman Charles Gladding. Life Honorary Members' Certificates : ExForeman Peter Moulden, ex-Fireman Sidney Hinton, ex-Fireman Charles Fcnton. The following were members of the old brigade under ex-Superintendent J. Hughe.: — Edward Wni. .Murphy. Lepine, and FullJames. Ot Saturday and Wednesday last the brigade held competition.-, and last night the Mayor distributed the prize- to the winners a-- follows —

llom.-. Hydrant, and Union (wet) for three men. First prize, £3 3s; second, £1 lis 6cl :'■ Firemen Win. Carr, Win. Wilson, and K. Moore (44 9-10-.). 1: Firemen C. Gladding, C. Harper, and P. Williams (45 4-55.). 2. Coupling (dry), for two men. First prize, £2 2s; second £1 Is; third. 10s: Foreman Williamson and Fireman Wilson (39 3-5*.). 1: Firemen T. Kell and Wm. Davis (39 4-55.), 2; Firemen K. Moore and Win. Carr (42 2-55.), 3. - Coupling (dry), for one man. First prize, £1 Is: second, 10s 6d; third, 5-: Fireman W. Wilson (30 l-55.), 1: Fireman B. Moore (32 310-.), 2; Fireman F. Gladding (32 4-5-.), 3. Arrangements are being made to hold another competition of three or four events, trophies for which have been presented by the. Mayor. Mr. A. Teutcnborg, Mr. A. .1. Entrican, Hon. C. Fowlds, Messrs. Milne and Choyce. Cash prizes and other trophies mill be added as they are forthcoming.