THE FIRE BRIGADE FETE.

Otago Witness, Issue 852, 28 March 1868, Page 16

THE FIRE BRIGADE FETE.

There could not possibly have "been more delightful weather for -the celebration of Anniversary Day, than there was on Monday.. A cloudless blue sky,~a warm sun, and a light breeze, made the perfection of pleasure-taking weather : the holiday was generally kept ; and there was a great amount of trip-making and picniexng in all directions.

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

The members of the Brigade mustered about one o'clock, in George street, near the Royal George Hotel ; and they were joined by members of the .different Friendly Societies, wearing the badges of their Orders. A procession was formed, which was headed by M. Fleury's Provincial Brass Band ; and in which were borne banners of the M.U.1.0.0.F., the A.1.0.0.F., the A.0.F., the Operative Tailors' Society, and the Brigade. Those forming the procession crossed to the Gardens before two o'clock.

There was plenty of work for boatmen, for two or three hours ; and a nnrnber of cabs took passengers to the Anderson's Bay Hotel, for the Gardens.

At the Gardens, there were foot races and other sports, which were carried on within the old race- enclosure ; and there' were other means of amusement. The swings were constantly patronised ; and so was the " merry-go-round," though constant exposure to the weather has brought the apparatus into a seemingly lialf-rotten condition. There was a lot-tery-wheel, the presiding genius over which vociferated, " Everybody's sure of a prize 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 the sun ; or the tangled and shaded paths through which to stroll. About four o'clock, there was luncheon in the old shooting gallery. The luncheon was delayed, because it was hoped that His Honor, the 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 left; and the 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^ otliur members of the Royal Family. " When the news of what had taken place in Sydney reached Bunedin 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 news 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 Duke's wound being fatal ; and every one would heartily hope and pray for the Duke's speedy recovery. — (Cheers.) The health of "His Excellency, the Governor, Sir G. Bowen," was the next toast.

The Mayor said that, as a member of the General Government, he might, perhaps, be allowed briefly to reply to the tcast. He had had one opportunity of meeting His Excellency, who had expressed his hearty desire to promote, to the utmost of his power, the prosperity of New Zealand. If the health of Prince

'Alfred permitted 1 his coming to' 'New Zealand/ the Governor would, ere long, with Hi 3 Royal "Hignes3, visit , Otago. — (Cheers:)'" Whether' or not, Sir George Bowen had stated his determination that, while he remained Governor of, New Zealand, he would visit each poTtion of the Colony— even the'ino'pt remote — at least once every two years. — (Cheers.) As far as his (the Mayor's) observation had extended, he believed that in Sir George Bowen we should find that we had a man,! everyway qualified to » fill the high office, j of Governor of New Zealand, and determined, to the -utmost, of his ability, andin a conscientious manner, to do his duty to; the Colony. — (Cheers.)

" The Army, Navy, and v olunteers," was proposed by the Chairman, and the toast was. received with cheers. '

"His Honor, the Superintendent," was proposed by Lieut. Wailt, and was followed by " musical honors."

Mr Gbddes proposed, " The. Mayor and Corporation of the City of Dunedin."

The Mayor returned thanks. He had to congratulate the Volunteer Fire Brir gade on having now nearly completed the sixth year of its existence, and upon its continued usefulness to the citizens. There had been very few public bodies, brought into "existence in Dunedin which had been more useful to the city than had the Fire Brigade. 'Such had' always been his opinion ; and now, on behalf of himself and the Corporation, he thanked the Brigade for their services. There had been differences between members of the Brigade and members of the Corporation, as to the assistance which the Brigade ought to receive •, but he hoped it would not be thought that the Council had been parsimonious. He knew that it had not always been in the power of the Corporation to meet the fair demands of the Brigade ; but it could not be doubted that to the Council, as representing the public, it was a matter of great importance to see the Brigade kept efficient, and a matter of anxiety as to how to do the most ior the Brigade, consistently with the- pecuniary position of the Corporation. He • believed that ever since he was elected Mayor, he had consistently advocated the claims of the Brigade ; and while he saw the efficiency with which the Brigade was 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 continue to advocate these claims. He wished to add a word or two more on. Corporate matters — this being almost the first opportunity lie had had of saying them in public. Before he was chosen as Mayor, he promised that, if elected, he would .set his face against any increase in the public debt, or of the public rates. He had kept his promise. — (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 the end of the financial year, it would be found that the debt of the city had been decreased by L3OOO or L4OOO. — (Applause.) These were not things that he could have done alone. During the current year, he had had associated with him active, energetic, earnest men — men who had the good of the city as much at heart as he had himself ; and there had been harmonious work in support of good measures. — (Applause.) He trusted that, at the close of his year of office, the Council would be able to show that some good work had been done for the city — if not so much as might have been expected. He was glad to see present so many representatives of Friendly Societies — bodies of which he had been a member, and the operations of which, so far as he knew them and believed of them, were privately and publicly beneficial. — (Applause.)

Amongst the subsequent toasts were — "The Caledonian Society of Otago," proposed by the Chairman, and acknowledged by Mr J. Edmond, the President of the Society ; "The Operative Tailors' Society," proposed by Foreman Lewis, and responded to by Mr M'Namara, the President ; " The Friendly Societies of Otago," proposed by Mr Baker, Treasurer of the Brigade, and acknowledged by Mr Rogers, for the M.U.1.0 O.F. and Mr M'Naughten, for the A. O.F ; " The Volunteer Fire Brigade," proposed by Mr Rogers, and acknowledged by the Chairman ;. "The Ladies," &c.

The majority of the visitors remained in the Gardens until dusk.

The Banner of the 7th inst. remarks :—: — "That the mortality in Albury has become so heavy as to be quite-alarraing. Scarcely a day passes without a funeral. Gastric fever and low fever are raging in our midst both of the most virulent type, and young and old are bowing before it. This may partly be attributable to the effluvia arising from the fetid swamps and waterholes that surround us ; but we expect that bad drainage, the drinking of sour wines and ales, and the eating of unripe or decaying fruit, have much to do with it."