FIRE BRIGADE SOCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15553, 7 September 1912, Page 10

FIRE BRIGADE SOCIAL

The annual smoko social of the Uuncdin Fire Brigade was held at Uie Central Firo Staliou lust niglit, mid tor several reasons the gathering must rank as tlio most enjoyablc and most successful of its kind that has yet been held. The large soeid-room, liboi-.illy bedecked with rings, was comfortably fined by the firemen anil their Iriends, tlioro boing present representatives of all tlio brigades in the outlying ureas, and also iniiiiy veteran fire-lighters of the "old brigade" Having tlio wherewithal for a pleasant evening it is not to bo wondered that the men last night found the timo pass swiftly and onjoyably. Superintendent Napier, who presided, proved himself almost an ideal chairman. On his right was seated the .Mayor of tho city (.Mr J. Wilson), and on his left Mr T, C'halmer (chairman of the Duncdiu Fire Board), while amongst others present wero Messrs 11. D. Stronncli, A. J. Sullivan, 11. 11, S. White, W. I). It, M'Curdie (city engineer), J. E. White, and J. Carroll.

His Worship the Mayor proposed tho toast of the " Ouncdin Fire Hoard." Mr Wilson said that having himself been at one time a member of the board he was in a position to know what it was doing. The members of the board worked together very amicably, and in this respect they were an example to other public bodies. In regard to brigade work tho suburban districts wero a littlo behind, but that would bo remedied in good timo when the Government had given tho board further borrow, ing powers. Tlio speaker concluded by paying a tribute to the chairman of tho board, wiiom ho was glad to sec, they had replaced in that position.—(Applause.) In responding to the toast, Mr C'halmer said that as the ■proposer had said tho chief difficulty with tho board liad been linancou trouble that all ot them seemed to experience more or less, The board in Duncditi was, pcrha|x>, more heavily handicapped in that respect than any other board in the. Dominion, as it had found so little to its hand when it started, and had had to provide pretty well everything. First had boon tho station site, and buying land in thesu days was not what it would.haro been years ago, when llicv should havo thought of a site. Thcro still remained a lot to l>o done, and it was unfortunate that their borrowing powers should have been so limited by tho act, as it necessitated their making rathor heavier demands upon their contributarios than they otherwise- would have done, in order to provido for that capital expenditure which would last for many years lo come, and therefore should not all fall upon present contributors. The brigade now had the means ot resixinding quickly to an alarm, and tho board was going to install an np-to-dato alarm system. Then they would givo the brigade tho opportunity of tackling fires in tho increasingly high buildings now being erected. For that purposo they required a modern extending ladder. After that they stili would have a lot to do to enable tliem to cope with fires in tho late suburban areas. , It was thus to be seen that tho question of financo loomed big with tho board. If they had power to borrow aa much moro again as they aldcady had they would then be in a position to put tho lire department on tho footing they would liko to sco it on. As it was, they had to go about it piecemeal. Still, it would not bo many years bofore they would have supplied their chief wants, by which timo they would bo in a position to claim that they had done something for tlio city.— (Applause).

Mr A. J. Sullivan proposed tho toast of "Tho Veterans." Though not a veteran himself, ho said ho would liko to pay tho tribute- to the veterans that when firelighting was not a profession they had not been loth to bear tho burden, Tho city was under a great obligation to them for their services He coupled tho toast with tho names of Messrs Wain, Sinclair, Mitchell, and Carroll.

The toast was responded to by tho gentlemen named, ex-Captain Mitchell receiving a hearty ovation froni_ the firemen present. Superintendent Napier briefly and some-' what humorously proposed tho toast of "The Underwriters Association," whom ho described as an important and necessary body of men from a lire brigado point of view, but otherwise something in tho nature of a necessary evil. Mr Stronach, whose namo was coupled with tho toast, replied in a somowliat similar vein. After remarking that tho underwriters had every confidence in tho superintendent, officers, and riien of tho brigade, ho went on to state, amidst laughter, that ho had been told that tho now superintendent had been favourably impressed with, and oven on ono occasion forcibly struek, by their water supply. The toast of " Tho Mayor and City Council" was replied to by the Mayor, who said that if the city had done what it should liavo dono for tho lire brigade thero would never havo been such a thing as a Fire Board. The council was now endeavouring Io meet the board's requirements, especially in tho matter of a better pressure of water in the streets, thero being a heavy expenditure this year for new mains. So long as Mr Sullivan remained on the board it would not lack an advocate iu tho council. Other toasts honoured were " The United Firo Brigades' Association," "Tho City Fire IBrigade," " Ex-members," '• Southern Associations." and " Visiting Brigades." Tho entertainment during tho evening was of the best. Among those taking part wero Messrs M'Kenzie, M'Kinlav, Gawn, Wylic, Cook, Morgan, Taykir," Bryant,' Crawford, Munro, M'Connell, Beck, M ( Lcan, Poltit, and Campbell. A vote of thanks was passed to the members of tho Orphans Ciub for their contributions to tho programme.