DUNEDIN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3246, 2 July 1872, Page 3

DUNEDIN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Brigade was held last 1 evening, Captain Wain in the chair. '; : " A letter was read from the Secretary- of the Pieton Fire Brigade," requferting a copy of working rules and any information .with reaped}, to, the gear necessary for a brigade. The Secretary was iristructed to forward raleg, 1 &c. '"■'•• •' ■ "'"' ■"-'■'■•' The-following letter,-received by Capt. Wain, from Lienfe-CoL' Cargill, being an answer to the Brigade's application for the capitation allowance-to be allowed to all enrolkd volunteer bodies, was read :—- Militia and Volunteer Office, ~ ; Dunedin, 24th June, JBJ2. Sir—l'have the" honour,"in "Reference to the application'for'capitation allowance made by the Duncdin Fire Brigade, tojnfomf you that the Inspector of Militia and Volunteers docs not consider that the" members of Fire Brigades are enfcitled-to it, &nd refers to his letter to this office on the subject of date 4th July, 1871, extract from which' Th erewith enclose.- 1 have, &c, , J.CARaijU* , , , Lt.-Col! commanding - Otago District. To Captain Wain, Tstmcdin'Fire Brigade. The following ib the extract referred to :— Militia and Yoltmteer Office, .Dunedin, 24th June, 1872. Sir—Extract from Colonel" Harington's . letter, dated 4th Julyi 1871. With reference to your letter No. 17-71, of 20th February, I have the honour to inform you that the Government do not appoint oiikers of a Jj^re BnVtt' <" '" '■■••- ' -;- '■*'■ 'i ,' The services of a corps -may be' acceptett under clause 2 of ihe Volunteer Act j but the members are not entitled to capitation , allowances unless theyperforin the" military ! duties' mentioned in the certificate of efficiency, page 32, Volunteer Regulations. By section 13 of Volunteer Act, no names of officers shall be submitted, unless one-half of the enrolled members being efficient volunteers ; and aa the members do not perform the duties neee»sary to. make them cHicient in accordance with the Regulations, they cannot submit; the names of the officers. —I have, &C., J. Caiusill, Commanding Militia and Volunteers. To Captain Wain, Dunedin Fire Brigade. The officers and members expressed great surprise at the refusal. Captain Wain called attention io the application of- the Brigade, dated ; 'January 17th, 1871, to be enrolled as a Volunteer body, as follows :—:" We, the .undersigned officers and members of the jDuucdin Volunteer Fire Brigade, are desirous of joining the Volunteer, iorce; on : the following conditions, viz,, we participate in .the same privileges as otlior Volunteer' bodies';' that our duties bo strictly confined to extinguishing fires, saving life and property from I the same, and ,nofc to be drilled with arms, except in cases of extreme ' emergency." The above was signed by the whole of the Brigade, and forwarded through " Major Bathgate to His Excellency the Governor. It was afterwards ; notified in the Government Gazette that j the privileges of Voluntcers^had been ex- ' tended to the Fire Brigade, their services ! as Volunteers having been ; accepted by the Governor. . 1 .. After* very long and warm discussipn, j it was resolved to place the matter in- the hands of Messrs Bathgate and Reynold^ the representatives of the City in the House of Representatives. The Captain f and Lioutenant were requested to wait on | those gentlemen, asking them to bring the affair before the House.' ' • • ' The Secretary was instructed to'again call' the attention of the City Council to j their application dated April _ 3rd, 1872, for new hose, &c. Messrs F. Bailey and, J. Brtrithwaite, were re-elected hoh. members' for the en-; suing year. .Captain Warn having thanked the members for their attendance, reminded them that Wednesday, the 10th inst., .would bathe regular practice night, and hoped there would bo the usual muster on that occasion. The meeting then terminated.