FIREMEN AT THE FESTIVE BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10498, 5 July 1910, Page 1

FIREMEN AT THE FESTIVE BOARD.

ANNUAL BRIGADE SOCIAL. It takes more than water to quell the ardour of a fire brigadesman; at anyrate an evening that was remarkable for nothing so much as its wet miscrablencss did not prevent tho members of the Oamaru Volunteer Firo Brigade attending their annual social m full force. The function, which was held after the annual meeting at tho Fire Station, took place in Bartruufs Tearooms, where "mine host" had the necessary ; appointments tastefully arranged. While the. inclemency of the evening did. not interfere with tho attendance of the. Brigadesmen, it certainly had a dampening effect on the number of visitors, who were not so numerous as they would otherwise have been. They included. Dr M'Adani (hon. surgeon to- the Brigade and a member of tho Fire Board;- and Mr E: Piper (secretary of the Firo Board). Superintendent W! James occupied tho chair, and he was supported-.by his deputy-superintendent (Mr W. Couper). Foreman .Herronoccupied tho vicechair. A "lead" was effectively got on to the edibles supplied by Mr Bartrum, after which the loyal toast was duly honored, arid the Deputy-Superin-tendent read a number of apologies, including one from tho Mayor;and Chairman of the Firo Board (Mr- E. Milligan).- '.■'!■■■'.:'- Foreman --. Carson proposed ."The Army, Navy, and Territorials," and the toast was responded to by ex-Cap-tain Piper and Lieut. Vine. Both speakers emphasised the value of the new Dominion system of defence, not only as a means; of self-protection, but because a system of compulsory'military training wonld tend to a better physical development of the men of the Dominion.

Ex-Fireman Rowlands proposed "The New Zealand Firo. Brigades' Association," and in doing so described how the Association had sprung from the enthusiastic endeavor of a few firemen, who became imbued with the. idea that the work of the brigades was. not supported as it should bo by tho public. The Fire Brigades Act had passed into law after many years of struggle, and it in a great measure' filled the wants of the firemen. Ho asked the company to drink to the health of the pioneers of the. Association and to those who now so worthily carry no the work.

Deputy-Superintendent Couper, replying, said that ex-Fireman Rowland's remarks had afforded him much pleasure. Out of the few who were the originators of the Association some 32 years ago there were only about three left. The Association had done good work, one effect of it being the efficient brigade in 'Oamaru to-day. Mr Couper detailed some of the hardships the brigades had to face owing to shortness of money bel'oro tho new system of fire control came into force, when it was necessary to "pass round the hat" for every new piece of hose required. To-day most -of the brigades were hi a

sound financial "position through the good offices of the Association. Mr Couper concluded by expressing his appreciation of the hearty manner in which tho toast had been honored.

Supcriricendont...Tames proposed "The Oaniaru Fire Board." Ho said that all wvvv aware of the personnel of the Board. The town was now supplied with a. fire station which it would not have had' if it had not been for the Firo Board—a station which would compare, favorably with any of equal size in the .Dominion for appointments. A new carriage, too, was shortly to be added to the equipment. Mi- Piper, secretary to the Firo Board, responded. He said it was certain that the new system of firo control had greatly added to the safety of property in Isew Zealand. He was sorry the Chairman of the Board, who had taken s'ueh a great interest in its work, was_riot'.able to be present. He instanced the fact that Mr J. M. Forrester had that day been appointed the Government nominee on the Fire Board, which was composed of three representatives of the insurance companies, three of the Borough Council, and the Government nominee. The Board had done its best for the Brigade, and had placed it in a satisfactory condition, by. the' men what .comfort they could in their leisure moments and material for the efficient carrying out of their work. He instanced the proposal of the Board to ihstal a more per-fect-firo alarm system, and concluded by remarking that the Board highly appreciated the work of the Brigade. Other toast were: "Old Members," proposed by ' Deputy-Superintendent Couper,' arid replied to'by,ex-Fireman Rowlands; "Oamaru "Bands," proposed by Fireman Herron, and replied to by Bandmaster Booth,(Garrison), - Bandsman Cooney (Citizens), Piper Stevenson (Pipe Band), and Mr.W.,Robson.(Peerless Orchestra); "The Oamaru Fire Brigade," proposed by Mr J. E. Hood and' replied to by Superintendent James and Deputy-Superintendent Couper; "The Honorary Surgeon" (Dr M'Adam) proposed by Bandsman Booth.; "The Visitors," proposed by Deputy-Superin-tendent Couper and. responded to by Messrs- D. Miller; S. 'Davys, arid 'Ross; "The Ladies," "The Press',-" arid •'■'' Tile Chairman." The following contributed to the harmony of the evening-.—Foreman Herron. 'Firemen M'Guffog', Breed-, 'Badeley, and Hfnkley, Messrs S. "Davys, Piper, Cooney, arid'Graham. Mr W. Williams played the accompaniments. '■■ ■ The proceedings closed with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem. . .

PRESENTATIONS. During the foregoing proceedings, Mr D. Miller, ' at the invitation - of the Chairman, presented the following two years' service bars: —Superintendent James, total service, :23 .years I.month 29 days; Deputy-Superintendent Couper, 21 years 7 months 26 days;. Hon. Surgeon K. M'Adam, 11 years 26 days; Foreman Herron, 11 years 26 days':''" Foreman ' 'Carson,'""9'" years ;4 months 27 days; Hydrant-man Badeley, 12 years.3 months 24. days; ,Br/mch'man W." Edwards, 1.1 years 7 .months; Fireman J. '.Booth was 'presented: with a certificate,; he having'completed three years' service,, his total .-being;. 3" years 10 months 25 days. ■. '. _.. ";