THE FIRE BRIGADE FETE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1944, 24 March 1868, Page 4

THE FIRE BRIGADE FETE.

There could not possibly have been more delightful weather for tho colotbration of Anniversary Day, thait there was yesterday. A cloudless blue sky, a warm sun, and a light breeze, made tho perfection of pleasure-taking weather: tho holiday was generally kept; and there was a great amount of trip-making and picnicmg in all directions.

The feto of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, in aid of the Sick and Accident Fund, was held at Vauxhalt Gardens, and was numerously attended—though hundreds of persons who desired to cross the harbor to Vauxhall, left the old jetty, deterred by the difticultius attendant upon getting on board the steamers. From half-past one until three o'clock, when there was the greatest rush of excursionists to the jetty, there waa only the Peninsula to do tho ferrying ; and she waa utterly inadequate to tho work. Tho Golden Ago is laid up for a thorough rciit; thu Wallace had to go to the Port, where sho was detained to bring up the Ilangitoto's passengers and mail ; and thus, through no fault of tho steam-boat company, there was no boat fitted to carry those who were pressing to get te. the Gardens. About two o'clock; the Peninsula started, rolling under her packed deck-load, and she left behind on tho jetty more than she took away. Tho number of waiters was greatly increased before tho Peninsula returned ; and a crowding and a crushing to £et on board followed, which fortunately did not result in what seemed imminent—the dttcking, if not the drowning, of a score of women and children. Two or three hundred people left tho jetty disappointed ; but enough remained to load tho roomy deck of the Wallace, which boat got back from the Port beforo three o'clock.

The members of the Brigade mustered about one o'clock, in Georgo street, near the Boyal George Hotel ; and they wero Mood by members of the different Fjcieindly Societies, wearing tho badges. ..of tlieir Orders. A 5 procession was formed, which was headed ; by M. .Fleury's Provincial Brass Bind'; arid in which were borne Bannere of the M^tJ.I.O.OF., tho A.l*O;O.BY,ftho A.0.F.,: the Operative Tailors' Society, and the Brigade. "- Those forming.*'the crossed"ib the Gardens before two o'clock- ; . ;

i There was plonty of work (or boatmen, j for two or three hours ; and a nnmber of cabs /took passengers to the-Anderson's Bay Hotel, for the Gardens. jAt the Gardens, there were foot races arid other sports, which wor^ carried on within the old race-'pricloiiare ; and there were other means pf anvntfement. The swings were constantly: patronised ; and ao was the " merry-go-round," ., though constant exjwsure to the weather has brought the apparatus into a Beamingly half-rotten concfition. There was a lot-tery-wheel, the presiding genius over which Vociferated, " Everybody's suro of a pme worth three times his money.;'* there was an "Aunt Sally;" and there was one of those backboarded wheelbarrows, across, which lads so much delight to shoot for indefinite quantities of " Barcelonas," of doubtful quality. There was a band in the orchestra, and plenty of dancing in the rotunda. If visitors inclined to none of these things, there ■was the thickly-grassed hillside on which to bask in tho sun ; or the tangled and shaded patlis through which to stroll. About four o'clock, there luncheon in the old shooting gallery. The luncheon was delayed, because it was hoped that His Honor, tho Superintendent-:, would arrive; but he did not. -About 50 sat down; Capt. Woodlands, of the Brigade, being in the chair. The Hon. J. H. Harris, M.L.A. Mayor of Dunedin, was on the chairman's right; Lieut. Wain was on his loft; and tW Friendly Societies, were well represented. After the repast, the toast of "The Queen—God bless ♦her,," was drunk with heartiness, . . The Chairman proposed, "The Prince and Princess of Wales, and the other members o£ the Royal Family." When the news of "what had taken place in Sydney reached Uunedin on Saturday evening, he feared that to-day would be a day of lamentation instead of rejoicing ; but they had all hailed with thankfulness the fuller and more favorable bows of the state of the Duke of Edinburgh, which reached Dunedin on Sunday. —(Cheers.) Every one present would unite in acknowledging the Providence which had prevented the Hvikes> wound being, fatal; and every one .would ; heartily hope and pray for the Duke, a . speedy recovery.—(Cheers.) JT The health of "His Excellency, the , Governor^ Sir G. Bowen," was the next .' toast. ■.'•■■.■- '• : --; ■■■■■■ • •-■-"■■.•■ .. ■- ;'; /■'• I ■ The Mayor said that, as a member of • the General Government, he might, per-. ''■>' haps, be allowed briefly to ,reply to the 1 teaat; He had had one opportunity of s meeting His Excellency, who ha* ex--3 pressed his hearty desire to promote, to 1 the utmost of his power, the prosperity I of New Zealand. It the he^Ui^Priiwe Alfred permitted hia <Kmiing*tc :^Newi 3e4----f land, the Governor wouldj^ere long^ with 1 His Royal Higness, visit Otago.------(Gheeia/) Whether ?<»?>»ofc» Sa George

Bowen had stated Km determination that* while he remained Governor of New Zealand, he would visit e&vch portion of tho Colony—even tho most; remote—at leasfc once every two years.—(Cheers.) As far as his (tho'Mayor's) observation had extended, lie believed that in Sir Georgo Bowen we should find that wo had a man everyway qualified to fill tho high office of Governor of New Zealand, and determined, to tho utmost of hh ability, andim a conscientious manner, to do hia duty to tho Colony.—(Cheors.) " The Army, Kjtvy, and Volunteers," was proposed by the Chairman, and the toast waa received witli cheers. " His Honor, tho Superintendent," was proposed by Lieut. Waik, and was followed by "musical honors." JRTr GunnKs proposed, «;The Mayor and Corporation of the City of Dunedin." The Mayor rotumed thanks. * He had to congratulate the Volunteer Fire Brigade on having now nearly completed the sixth year of ita existence, and'upon its continued usefulness to tho citrons* There had been very few public bodies* brought into existence in Dimediii which had been moro useful to tho city than had the Fire Brigade. Such had always been his opinion ; and now or behalf of himself and the Corporation ho thanked tho Brigade for their service* There had been differences between.members of tho Brigade and members'of tho Corporation, as to tho assistance which: the Brigade ought to receive; bnt ho hoped _ it would, not bo thought that tho Council had been parsimonious. 'He know that it hadnot always been in tho power of tho Corporation to meet the fair demands of the Brigade ; bnt it could not be doubted that to the Council, as representing tho public, it was a matter of great importa.nco to see tho Brigade kepir efficient, and a matter of anxiety aa to how to do the most for the Brigade, consistently with the pecuniary posiiion of the Corporation. He believed that ever since ho was elected Mayor, ho had consistently advocated tho claims of tho Brigade; and while ho saw: the efficiency with which tho Brigade waa maintained, and the self-sacrifices made by its members -not only as regarded time and personal convenience, but also' as to their own -money—so long, in office or out of it, he would continuo to advocate - - these claims. He wished to add a word, or two moro oh 'Corporate matters—this • being almost the first opportunity ho had had of saying them in public. Before he waa chosen as Mayor, he promised that if elected, ho would set hia face against any increase in the public dobt, or of-the ; ■ public rates. Ho had kept his .-promised —(Hear, hear.) The rate this .year,was: ' 3d in the pound less than it was last year | and he believed that when there was * a balancing-up at tho end of thc,finandtal year, it would be found that tho dobt of the city had been decreased by L3OOO or 1.4000. — (Applause.) Those were not things that he could have done alono. During tho current year, ho had had associated with him active, energetic, earnest men—men who had tho good o£ the city as much at heart as he had himself ; and there had been harmonious, work in support of good measures.—(Applause.) Ho trusted that, at the close o£ his year of office, tho Council would bo able to show that some good work had been done for the city—if not so much as might have been expected, t Ho was glad to see present so many representatives of Friendly Societies—bodies of which he had boon a menibor, and tho operations of which, so far as ho knew them and.. believed of thorn, were privately and publicly beneficial.—(Applause.) Amongst the subsequent toasts were— "The Caledonian Society of Otago^* proposed by tho Ohairmnn, and acknowledged by Mr, J. Edmoud, tho President of tho Society ; "Tho .Operative Society," proposed by Foromanll.ew'uv and responded to by Mr M'NamaVa. tha President; "The Friendly |<&teties at. " Otago," proposed by Mr Bakery Treasurer of the Brigade, and acknowledged by Mr Rogers, for the MLV. 1.0 O,F. and MeM^aughten, for the A.O.F ; « The Volunteer Fire\Brigade," proposed by Mr Rogers, ariid acknowledged by tha Chairman ; +* The Ladies," &c.

Tho majority of the visitors remained in the Gardens until dusk ; an^ theWallace tlieri in a few trips brought most, of them back to Dunqdin.