FIRE BRIGADE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4422, 7 May 1941, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADE

ANNUAL MEETING AT TE AWAMUTU. HONOURS PRESENTED. The annual meeting of the Te Awamutu Fire Brigade was held last night, Superintendent H. J. Irwin presiding over an attendance of 16 members. The chairman gave an outline of the year’s working as covered by his report to the Fire Board which is to be considered at the Board’s annual meeting on Friday. Thfe report was formally adopted by the Brigade for reference to the Board. The election of officers proceeded and all were re-elected as under:— Secretary, Foreman L. W. Spence; treasurer, Deputy J. Dalton; hon. surgeon, Dr Blundell; hon. auditor, Mr G. 0. Jourdain. In the discussion of general affairs of the Brigade, reference was made to the abandonment last year of the annual ball and the substitution of a dance in aid of patriotic purposes. Some discussion followed whether the normal social activities of the Brigade should be renewed this year, especially as the funds of the Brigade are becoming limited. During the past year no ordinary revenue had been raised, and had it not been for the generosity of a few donors a most difficult position would have arisen. Whereas the Fire Board is responsible for the finance of all Brigade equipment, the internal organisation of the Brigade is arranged by the Brigadesmen themselves. After some discussion it was decided to defer consideration of the holding of the annual ball and bonfire to a later meeting. SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL REUNION. The annual reunion of members, auxiliary, past members and supporters of Te Awamutu Fire Brigade was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening. Mr M. Barnett was toastmaster and kept proceedings going with a vim.

The evening programme opened with several popular, numbers played by the Fire Brigade Orchestra of five which was well received. Superintendent H. J. Irwin, in proposing the toast “The Fire Board,” stated that the town was fortunate in having such keen members on the Board, with the result that the Brigade possessed equipment and appliances second to none of a similar-sized town in New Zealand.

In reply, Mr H. C. Rainey (chairman of the Fire Board), said that the Board did all possible to meet the needs of the Brigade the Brigade was a body of fine and efficient men and was" deserving of having its equipment up-to'-the-minute. Mr Ray Burridge, of Auckland, or better known as “Ramon,” then gave a polished ventriloquist performance with the assistance of his doll friend Jimmie. His patter and stories won round after round of applause. In proposing the toast of members serving with the Forces on H.M.S., Mr M. Barnett mentioned that six boys of the Brigade were already in action overseas and another member was about to enter the Air Force. Seven members out of a Brigade strength of 16 men was certainly a fine record. Mr Les. Hallett, a Digger of the 1914 forces, suitably replied. Mr Geo. Ball was in good form in a bracket of pianoforte solos. PRESENTATIONS. At this juncture Mr Rainey presented the following honours to members concerned:—Fireman A. Harris, 5-year medal. Fireman A. Irwin, 5-year medal. Superintendent H. Irwin, 2-year bar, making 15 years’ service. Dr Blundell, 2-year bar, making 11 years’ service.' , Fireman L. Olsen (serving overseas), 5-year medal. After a delightful supper, Mr E. H. Cucksey was in good voice in a bracket of songs, “Boys of the Old Brigade” and “Mother Machree.” The uncanny and amusing evolutions of the magician’s- art was brought to the fore by Manfoo. He held the audience spellbound by producing articles from “nowhere” and vanishing them just as mysteriously, finally closing his performance by producing a birdcage, complete with bird, from the atmosphere. The toast of the Borough Council was in the hands of Deputy J. Dalton and was acknowledged by Mr Geo. Spinley. Ramon and Jimmie again obliged the assembly with clever patter and finally a vocal duet—a fine ventriloquiel act. The toast, “The Fire Brigade,” was in the capable hands of Mr A. J. Tailby and reminders of the early “reel” days of the Fire Brigade caused much merriment. Foreman Les. W. Spence acknowledged the compliment on behalf of the Brigade members, and a pleasant evening terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.