ALEXANDRA NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 11

ALEXANDRA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ALEXANDRA, July 10, NEW FIRE BRIGADE STATION

OPENED,

Alexandra’s new fire station, which was recently completed, was officially opened last evening. The station, which is of brick atfd is finished inside with plaster, is a very spacious building containing a social room', a room for housing fire-fight-ing material, bedrooms for two members, a bathroom, and,the usual conveniences. The'superintendent of the brigade (Mr W. Carline, jun.) presided at the opening ceremony, and said .that the members ot the brigade had long felt that-it was necessary to have a more up-to-date station, and a grant of £250 from the Borough Council and, the proceeds of the recent queen .carnival (£540) had made the construction of a new building possible. He thanked ‘all those who had assisted in bringing about this result. The Mayor (Mr Bringans), after traversing the early history of the brigade, referred to the valuable work it had done in fighting the fire in the Molyneux coal mine in 1906. Four men were entombed in the mine, and Fireman Ashworth, "with great courage, had descended fhe mine, and after a hard struggle was successful in making an outlet and allowing the air fans to work. For this deed he, had received the medal for valour, of which were at present held in New Zealand. Fireman M'Kellar also took part in the rescue. In 1913, at the demonstrations at Wanganui, the brigade -was successful in winning the Metryweather Shield, and in doing so established a record which to date had not been equalled. The team comprised 'Firemen A. Ashworth, J. Carline, H. Kitto, J. Holden, and G. H. Hannay. In 1923, at Dunedin, with 67 brigades competing, a team Comprising W.,Carline. J. Carline, H. Walles, J. Noble, and J. White won the four-men reel event, and scored several minor successes, gaining second place in the aggregate marks for the South Island and third place for New Zealand. Mr Bringans gave a list of the captains who had served the brigade, and also gave instances of the keenness the firemen had shown by quoting their attendance records. He'- concluded an interesting address by thanking all those who contributed in any way to the funds, especially the country people who derived ino direct benefit from the services of thb brigade. Fireman Ashworth related some of the early experiences of the brigade, and the contractor (Mr W. M. Lopdell) and representatives of the Clyde and Cromwell Brigades also spoke and congratulated the Alexandra Brigade on the erection of such a fine station., , Mr J. Carline, vice-president of the Southern District Fire Brigades’ Association, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the president, and congratulated the brigade on. its new station. Fireman M'Kellar then called on Mrs A, Ashworth, the wife of the oldest member, to turn the key, and after this had been done he declared the new station duly opened, and invited the public to inspect the building.