THE ANNUAL SUPPER.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8365, 28 September 1895, Page 2

THE ANNUAL SUPPER.

There was a large attendance at the Fire Brigade Hall last night, when the members of the Brigade, with a number of visitors, including the Mayor and City Councilors, the representatives of the Richmond. Fire Brigade and the Nelson Salvage Corps, and Sergeant-Major Pratt, sat down to an excellent supper, to which full justice was done. Captain Bird was in the chair, and he • was supported on .the right by his Worship the Mayor (Mr Trask), and on his left by Lieut. Peebles, of the Richmond Brigade* the vice* chairs being filled by Lieut. King and-Fore-man Wimsett. After the repast, The Chairman said he had received apologies for the unavoidable absence of Councilors C. J. Harley and Baigent, Captain Crouoher and Secretary. Wilkes, of {he Richmond Brigade, The Chairman proposed " the Queen and Royal Family," which was loyally received, the National Anthem being sung. Song by Fireman Vause. Lieut. King proposed " the Governor, the Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers," to which Captain Jiokell responded, after Fireman T. Woodward had given a song. Lieut. King considered he should have included the mercantile marine in the preceding toast, as their services were very valuable to the nation. , Song — Lieut. King. The Chairman proposed " the Mayor and City Council." He spoke of the kindness the Brigade had ever received at the hands of that body. Since the Brigade had been under the Council, he said there had been no trouble as regards funds, and the Council had shown that they were well satisfied with the Brigade. He specially referred to the kindness the Mayor had always displayed towards them as a public body. The toast was received with musical honors and cheers. Pong— ■Pir-r.ian Thomson. 'jL'ne Mayor, in responding, referred to the Ooanoil as also being a volunteer body. H« repudiated the idea that the Councilors were an unsocial lot of mea, and said what differences might exist ia their meeting', when they met patside these were pat oa one aide. and they met in good friendship. He said he wbb happy to be present with tbe Councilors, aud to recognise tbe valuable services of tbe Bripais, Bnd tbe good work they did in smeg life and property. Cr Everett said he was pleased at having the privilege of being present. He was the o.dest Councilor present, hiving been in that body twenty-one jeaie, snd it was as the Mayor had s<»id, when thx battle was over there was no nure of it, and the hatchet was buried. He believed the whole of the members acted conscientiously in carrying out the duties of the Coanoil. He felt core all tbe Councilors w.ere pleased to be present, aad to do honor to |uoh a bo4y of men as composed the Brigade., Bong — Captain Jiokell. Foreman^ Wimseti proposed " The Biohmond Fire Brigade," and Lieut Pebbles of that body responded, feoog b> a? Fireman. Th«s M«)fQ.r proposed " the Nelson V..lancer Fire Brigade " He spoke of tbe arduous '

datiea performed by the rherdben; and eologised their smartness in putting pot flrea, He also duly recognised the valuable aid given to the Brigade by the Salvage Corps and the Police. He hoped the members of the Brigade would live long to be associated wi'h eacb other. Song— Or Q. Boat. Captain Bird expressed his pleasure at the msnner in which the Brigade had b en referred to. He »aid before the fire-raiser fIM oaugbt, the Brigade had turned out to thirtyeight firea wbioh they reckoned had been wilfully started. He felt proud to- belong to ' such a body of men who always ijiid as Ihey were told. Le consid red the ficetne'n a? . good as those in other places. He ho «d , th^i they would lire long to work together, 7 and that the same good fueling would alwagjl^ > ■ exist between them a< at presents ° ■■ • ■ Recitation — Cr Look. .■--.:•. Secretory Oookeey proposed " 'fha Salvage ■Jorpe," and, after a Boog was given by Firs* „ man Jon s, Captain Price responded. resOg'i' t - ! ~ nising ih« harmonious inanmi io wbioh the - two bodies had always Worked together; • : •; .; Fireman MoArtnpy proposed "The.ltt* suranoe Companies.* 1 ■■•<■ '- '—-'"•• '•''"' i The Chairman laid he had received an apology from Mr k. AYBcaite for his absence. He stated the Insurance Companies had sent them a cheque towards, their annual nioqio. Song^Or Akersteo. . Cr Bout, in responding, said orders bid come from headquarters toal they mart, net „ contribute t) wards the funds. of a Fire Brigade, he supposed it was because the more efficient a Brigade waß, the. less likely people ware to insure. ~ The Association had sen|, „ £20 towards the Brigade's picnic, and' he v . would endeavor to get a contribution .sen! ' ' every year; ■ ..V..Y'.'., ,^ Song— Fireman Vause. The Mayor proposed " The Nelson Folio* Force." He spoke of the effioient manaer, in „ , which flergt-Major Pratf and hia'amall forcer, of men did their various duties; He aIM . . , recognised the services the Police had front time to time reih ered in discovering fires. - Song— Mr F. Trask. »* Sdng - Mr H V. Guily, " Sergt-Major Pratt, in responding, said be was pleased to hear that the Police had done their doty to the satisfaction of tbe public .. He said it was satisfactory to know that the , . fire-raising was at an end, and he was pleased. ' tbe Police had something to do with pottiojL' x a stop to the fire-raiser. He complimentel;, the Brigade on their smartness, and laid hft,, considered them second to none.. , .. ' t Fireman Vause proposed ''the Absent Members," and in doing so kindly referred to Fireman 0. Harley, Dr.Coleman, and Dr Leggatt. The toast was received with chewe*. Song— Fireman T. Woodward. Or J. A Harley proposed "Captain Bird." He said he had known Captain Bjbrifrom^ his infanoy, and had met him in sport, worls and trade, and had always found Jhim bpnoj* . . able and generous.. He oonsidered ib'e Bri** gade tbe best invitation tbe oity bad, and Captain Bird might well feel proud of being, at its head. . ; , ; ( ;. Captain Bird in responding, Bald Or Harley's kind remarks had tpuohed him , very much. His moito had been in sport a'pd other matters "go straight " Ho had risen from the ranbs of the firemen, and he hoped others would do the came He was pleased when he went to other plaoes , to, bate ',. enquiries made about old . members of we Brigade. . , .... „ „ i Recitation— Sebretary Cookacy. Foreman Bichards proposed " Our departed i Friends." The toast W-»s drank in sileaoe. Song— Or Akersten. Seotetery Cooksej, in responding, Bpoke of Captains Knight, Mirfin, M. Binolair, H. r Wimsett, and Lightfoot. He also referred to the late Captain Gordon Poneonby. -. >. i Song — Fireman Leonard, of Richmond. 1 Fireman W. Dee proposed "the Ladies A and referred to tbe " new woman.Mi.c^ftiat 1 Fireman Thomson had given a recitation.. > Fireman E. N. Jotes responded. He>tata the women were becoming a stronger power politically, and they might yet see * (Female. \ Fire Brigade. . 1j..: : Song -fireman E. Hounsell. Fireman Truman proposed " the rteea," 1 and after a song from Captain Prioe, Mr' W. I T. Bond responded. Recitation — Mr Lusty. 1 J Song — Mr Luxford. 1 Captain Bird proposed "the Firemen." He eaid bo worthy a body of men deserved ' every recognition from their offloere. Song -Fireman Vaoje. Fireman F. N. Jones, in responding, epokt of the excellent officers they had, who were 1 re-eleoted year after year, so great was the confidence reposed in them. Songs by Or Akersten and Fireman 8« Woodward followed. The company iiaving joined in singing " Auld Lang Syne " and the National. An« them, the pleasant gathering oame to a Oloße at one e'olook this morning