THE FIRE BRIGADE

Southland Times, Issue 18930, 2 May 1923, Page 5

THE FIRE BRIGADE

MR HAMILTON’S RETIREMENT PRESENTATION TO EX-SUP-ERINTENDENT INTERESTING REMINISCENCES. Some interesting reminiscences in regard to the early history of the Invercargill Fire Brigade were told yesterday afternoon, when Mr W. R. Hamilton, who recently retired from the position of Superintendent after many years of service, was given a presentation on behalf of the citizens of Invercargill in recognition of the long and faithful service he had given to the town. The Mayor, Mr J. F. Lillicrap, presided, and there were present the Mayor elect, Mr A. Bain, representatives of the present and past Town Councils and a number of other citizens.

An apology for absence was received from Mr Hamilton’s successor, Mr Simpson. The Mayor, Mr J. F. Lillicrap, said that when Mr Hamilton resigned his position as Superinetendent of the Brigade, it was felt that they could not allow him to depart without some memento of the long and faithful service he had given to the town. It fell to the lot of very few men to serve lor such a long time. Mr Hamilton joined the Brigade on December 5, 1895 or 27 years and two months ago, and since 1907 had occupied the position of Superintendent. Captain Hall was one of the early Superintendents of the Brigade and he was succeeded, by.Mr Miller, who, however, resigned the position after a short term. Mr Hamilton was appointed in his place. He, the speaker, could go back a' good many years and could recall the time when the Fire Brigade station was situated in Don street, it was not then a very noble edifice, but it filled the requirements of the time. Later the Brigade occupied the old Immigration Barracks for a number of years until, he understood, it was burned down by the Fire Brigade. That was during the Boer War celebrations. The Brigade had charge of the fireworks and it was said that one of the members of the Brigade left a light close to where the fireworks were stored, with the result that one half of the building went up and the other half was burned down. Following the incident the Brigade made its quarters in the old workhouse situated to the east of the barracks and remained there until the present station was erected in Esk street. When the local insurance companies had recently made a presentation to Mr Hamilton, he had had an opportunity of referring to the valuable services rendered to the town by Mr Hamilton without any reward whatever. These services could not have been given by Mr Hamilton without considerable inconvenience to himself, but he had given them willingly and voluntarily. The Mayor elect, Mr A. Bain, said that no one had served the town more faithfully than Mr Hamilton. He had given of his best and the results were a credit to himself and to the Brigade. For many years the Invercargill Brigade held the reputation of confining fires to the buildings in which they had originated. The Mayor had referred to the incident of the fireworks, but he could tell a better one than that. At one time part of the waterworks had been burned down, and he did not think there was any other town in which such a thing as that had happened. In concluding his remarks, Mr Bain expressed the hope that Mr Hamilton would have many years before him in which to enjoy his retirement.

Mr C. 8. Longuet said that he had known Mr Hamilton for a very long time and could remember his appointment to the position of Superintendent and felt sure that it had been well deserved. Mr Hamilton had done excellent work indeed and throughout the whole of his long term had carried out his duties most efficiently. He made a study of his work and had in every way possible qualified himself for the position. He, Mr Longuet, had been closely associated with the Brigade both as a member of the Town Council and as Mayor. He had been appointed an honorary member of the Brigade and also had in his posession a silver Itey to the present Fire Brigade Station, which was erected when he occupied the Mayoral chair. He treasured these mementos yery highly. He desired to congratulate Mr Hamilton on his long and efficient service and to express the hope that he would have a long and happy life before him. Mr W. A. Ott said that he had too felt that Mr Hamilton had always given of his best. He had taken a keen interest in the Brigade and had always been confident that while Mr Hamilton was in charge everything would go on all right. It had done so for a long time and the Invercargill Brigade had held the record, unequalled in any other part of the Dominion, that a fire never spread beyond the building in which it'originated. He joined with other speakers in expressing appreciation of the voluntary services given by Mr Hamilton. Mr Stewart said that it gave him very great pleasure to have the opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the services given to the town by Mr Hamilton. He had been associated with Mr Hamilton during the early days of the Brigade and had watched his career with interest. As they were aware he had taken a very keen interest in Fire Brigade matters. He had compiled a of the Invercargill Brigade and had a record of every fire that had occurred during the last 50 or 60 years. Mr Stewart went on to make interesting reference to the introduction of the Fire Brigades in England and said that the first brigade to be formed outside of London was at Ashford. Of this brigade the late Mr John Kingsland was a member. In his home town they had what was commonly known as a bucket brigade, the buckets being kept at a pump in front of the town hall. Two men were appointed to take charge and were known as the first and second engineer. His father happened to i be a second engineer and whenever a fire occurred it fell to the sneaker’s lot to run round and notify the members of the briI gade. Referring to the formation of a | Brigade in Invercargill Mr Stewart said that ' on September 27, 1863, an editorial appearied in the Southland Times expressing the opinion that the time had come when a Brigade should be established. Nothing was done until the following year. Exactly 60 years ago to-day, a local business man went round and obtained the signatures of eleven other men to a paper asking the citizens of Invercargill to meet them and go into the question of forming a Bgirade. I That meeting was held on May 7 in the I Royal Hotel. There was a big row at the meeting and there were a great many for and against the proposal. After the meeting had been in progress for some time, Mr John Kingsland suggested that they should adjourn to the Criterion Hotel, where I a private room would be available. The j suggestion was acted upon. As the result of that meeting it was decided to form a ■ brigade. Rules were drawn up and Mr J. Hatch was appointed secretary. The Brigade had had a lot of ups and downs since then and there had been many men at the head. Mr Reece was the first Captain, but resigned to take part in the gold rush at the West Coast. Then followed Messrs John Kingsland, J. Harvey, D. Ross and D. Mcßobie. At the close of Mr Mcßobie’s term, Mr Ross was again appointed as a paid man to keep the plant in order. Later Dr Galbraith, Mr John Washer, Captain Hall and Mr Miller held the position as Superintendent, and then Mr Hamilton was appointed. He had worked under all these men except the two first. The original Station was situated on the site now occupied by John Chambers Limited. The speaker concluded his remarks by expressing the hope that Mr Hamilton would be long spared to enjoy his retireemnt. Mr A. M. Mackrell said that he was pleased to have an opportunity of paying tribute to one of the old brigade. In the growth of a town it was the pioneers who played the greater part and in the early days they were faced with far greater difficulties than they were to-day. Mr Hamilton had done a great deal for Invercargill and it was pleasing to know services had been appreciated.

Mr I. L. Petrie also spoke in complimentary terms of Mr Hamilton’s sendees as Superintendent of the Brigade. The Town Clerk, Mr F. W. Burwell, speaking on behalf of the members of the Brigade and as an officer of the Corporation, joined with the other speakers in wishing Mr Hamilton a long and happy period of retirement. He also made special reference to the part played by Mrs Hamilton and said that the box of cutlery was meant more especially as a tribute to the great assistance she had always given to her husband. Councillor Farrant said that as one of the youhger members of the Council, ha desired to join in congratulating Mr Hamilton and wishing him good luck for the future. Mr G. Dennis said that as a member of the Brigade he had been under Mr Hamilton for the last eleven years and knew his sterling qualities, as a chief and as a man. He could endorse all that had been said. The Mayor then asked Mr Hamilton to accept on behalf of the Corporation and the citizens of Invercargill, a gold hunter watch. The inscription on the watch read as follows: “Presented to W. R. Hamilton by the citizens of Invercargill on the occasion of his retirement as Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, December 5, 1895 January 31, 1923.” The Mayor also asked Mr Hamilton to accept, on behalf of Mrs Hamilton, a handsome case of cutlery. In making this presentation the Mayor said that they could not let the presentation to Mr Hamilton paw without recognising the important part played by his wife in the services he had given to the town (Applause). Mr Hamilton said thbt he very much appreciated their expressions of good-will and the tokens which had accompanied them. Every time he looked at the watch he would think of the Fire Brigade. Every fireman knew what a great deal they owed to their wives, and Mrs Hamilton had always been a great help-mate to him. He could only thank them for their kindness.