ANNUAL DINNER OF FIRE ESCAPE CORPS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 546, 22 July 1882, Page 13

ANNUAL DINNER OF FIRE ESCAPE CORPS.

The first annual dinner of the Wellington Fire Escape Corps was held Wednesday night at the Central Hotel. All the members were present, and the chair was occupied by Mr Asher, Captain of the Corps, and the vice-chair by Mr Harris, Lieutenant. The table was laid most tastefully, and the viands were of the very best quality, reflecting great credit on Host Glew. It is needless to say that with such a spread it wa3 done full justice to ; one and all were loud in their praises of the host.

The usual loyal toast having been dealt with* Mr Harris proposed the health of the Salvage Corps and Municipal Brigades. He said they were at all times ready to turn out and work, and work hard, too. He had watched them since he had been in Wellington, and he must acknowledge he never saw a body of men turn out with greater promptitude than the Wellington Municipal Eire Brigade, or do better service. The toast was drunk with musical honors. Mr Adams, a member of the Municipal Fire Brigade, responded, and said it was at all times the object of the Brigade to render all the assistance they could for the protection of property. He must admit that great assistance had at all times been rendered by the Escape Corps. Several fires, though not of a very serious nature, had been kept under by the united efforts of the corps. He believed in the course of a mouth or two medals would arrive from England which had been sent for by the New Zealand Association. In conclusion, he thought the time would soon come when the fire brigades and other similar corps would receive more support in New Zealand than was now accorded.

Mr Glew proposed the “Insurance Companies,” and remarked that they were at all times ready to give a helping hand to all the corps. Mr Hook proposed the health of “Captain Asher and officers of the Eire Escape Corps. * Mr Asher responded, on behalf of himself and officers of the corps, and said that the corps was at all times ready to turn out whenever the fire-bells ga/e the alarm. Though the brigade was formed for the purpose of saving life, he was happy to say their services had not been required, but, at the same time, they were always ready. He had been connected with different fire brigades for a number of years. In 1862, he with others formed a fire brigade in Otago, and previous to that he was connected with a similar corps in Melbourne in the year 1851. The remainder of the evening was spent in harmony, some excellent songs being sung.