DUNEDIN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2051, 1 September 1868, Page 3

DUNEDIN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

EESOLUriOK TO DISBAND. : ; A special meeting of the Fire Brigade riwas held last evening, at the Engine^ "House, Rattray street. There was a large attendance of members, and Captain Woodlands occupied the chair. A number of letters upon various niat"ters were received and read. Captain Woodlands said the meeting lhad been called to consider what course "-should be pursued by the Brigade under "the circumstances in which it was placed. A letter had been received from the Corporation, and upon that letter the Brigade •would have to act. He trusted that the • matter would be discussed temperately. - The Secretary (Mr R. Puflett) read' the following letter from the Town -Clerk:— , ; : '' ' Sir—l have the honor to acknowledge the. receipt of your letter of the ISfch August, in -which, you convey a resolution of theDun>cdin Volunteer Fire Brigade, to hold p.o further communication witotlie City Council in regard to the proposed new agreement between the Corporation and the Brigade, but to abide by the agreement of 1866. In reply, I have to inform you that yesterday tiie Council took your letter into consideration, and resolved, that clause' 2 of draft of the new agreement, as to subsidy, and that clause 9, as to terminating the agreement, must both stand as in the original ■draft submitted to the Brigade by the Corporation. The Council cannot admit the amendments of your Solicitor.—l have, &c, J.-M. Massey, ■; Town Clerk. Mr Gr. I. Merrie said that he intended to propose that the resolution of the last meeting—immediate disbandmenfe—be put in force. The manner in which the Brigade had been treated by the Council at the last meeting was only a continuation of the treatmenVthe Brigade had all along, received, and it was time an end was put to it. The Insurance Agents could not afford to grant more aid than they were doing; and the Brigade could not rely upon promises. Doing that had caused all the trouble. Councillor Fish had said that the city could do without the Bri-gade—.-would not be less safe without it; and as there seemed to-be a desire to get

. hold of the gear, and have a paid Brigade, let the scheme be tried. He moved, . "That the Brigade now disembody, and t give notice to the public that on and after c Monday next it ceases to act." j. Mr Cprle seconded the resolution, Mr Foreman Lewis said he thought the Brigade should give some little notice to the public of its intention, and not do c things hurriedly. The paid servant '■• would require notice, or wages in lieu of c notice ; and, above all, the Brigade had . no right to disband with the 3tain upon c its character that had been cast upon it a by Mr Driver's remarks. Some explanation was needed of wha,t moneys the Brigade had received, and how they had been expended. He moved— 0 That we take one month from next 8 monthly meeting, and a Committee bo 8 formed to wind up the affairs of the Brigade, 1 and at the month's end the Brigade disband. f Mr Treasurer Baker secondod the . motion. Mr Foreman Robertson thought that a [ month was too long, and he moved that the Brigade disband on the next monthly meeting night (Monday). i Mr Puflett seconded the motion. t Mr Merrie objected to the amend- . ments. _ The delay was not necessary, j and while the Brigade was going on, fresh ( expenses were being incurred, which would have, most likely, to be paid but of ' the members'.fund. Let the Brigade call a public meeting at once, explain what ; was intended to be done, and hand over : the gear and plant to their proper custodians. . Captain Woodlands said there was a decided objection to the calling a public meeting. "Mr Hobbs thought there was no good beating about the bush any longer. The Brigade had fulfilled its duties honorably, and it would retire.honorably. The public would see that, and the only thing to do was to announce that the -Brigade would, after a certain date, disband, and let the Corporation take the gear, and do what they liked with.it. Mr Shepherd said it would be better to give a week's notice, so that the Corporation might make proper arrangements. . There was a discussion, and various amendments were proposed. Ultimately, Mr Merries resolution was altered, and was carried, only the mover and seconder of the first amendment voting aginst it. The resolution, as adopted, was as follows:—; That it is the opinion of this.Brigr.ie, after mature consideration of the manner in which they have been treated, theyfeel there is but one course to pursue, and that is, to resign in a body their voluntary duties as Firemen, after Monday next, the 7th September. It was resolved to give the engine keeper and* watchman notice, that his services would be- dispensed with, oh ; Monday next.,; Messrs Shepherd, Hobbs, Curie, and Ruston, were appointed a Committee to assist the- officers and the trustees to wihd up the affairs of the , Brigade. The trustees of the Members' Fund were authorised.to draw the deposits from the Bank, arid ib was resolved to leave the money in the hands of the Treasurer until Monday next. : Th c Treasurer read the following statement of moneys received from the Corporation, since the payment of the •L3QO in December, 1865. The L3OO was to pay off old standing liabilities from, the first formation of the Brigade, viz.: Dalgety and Co., LB2lls ; Morison, Law, and Co., and Gr. S. Brodrick, for hose, L 62 12s 6d; wages over due, L 64 ; re-painting engines, and engine-house re-respouting, iron, ianks, repairs toengjnes^new lamps, and sundry over L 80; received on account of subsidy (LIOO per quarter), April, 1866, Ll3 5a 6d; July, LIOO ; August, LSO ; Qclober, L224s 3d ; January, 1867, LSO; March, 150"; September,' LTSO ; May, 1868, L 5% August, L3o:;r total, L 515 9s 9d: ; . The guarantee mentioned by Mr Driver ias! given "to Dunediti merchants is for ;600 feet of hose, and will amount 00 about - 1i125, and not L 3,00 as stated ; and it is. Ithe -, Brigade's own. .money due to them tinder the deed of 1866. i

; It was resolved, that a full statement of all moneys received.arid expended by the Brigade should be, prepared and published! .! It was also resolved that the notice of the Brigade's disbandtnent be inserted in the Times, Star, and. Tomahawk.

The T&EASiDßEß.stated that after payment of the Engine Keeper's wages, there would be a balance of 2s. An account from Messrs Marshal Land Copeland, for interest due upon the money advanced fot the purchase of the curricle engine, was aread. It was resolved to return the account, and inform Messrs Marshall and Copeland that they must apply to the Corporation for payment.