ELTHAM FIRE BRIGADE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1933, Page 8

ELTHAM FIRE BRIGADE

FINE RECORDS OF SERVICE. THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. The annual meeting of the Eltham Fire Brigade was held on Wednesday, when a successful year was reviewed. The annual report was the brigade’s 31st. It stated that he brigade was called out only four times during the year, three being for chimney fires. The other was to a residence that was destroyed owing to the lateness of the call received. The expenditure had been heavy, amounting to £lO9 13s 7d, and there was a credit balance of £l4 4s 3d. The attendances had been excellent, Second Foreman Phillpott and Fireman Little haying made the possible, 29 attendances. FirstForeman Glentworth, Fireman Lethbridge and Fireman Potts were present at 28 musters and there were many others with 27 to their credit. There were many members with excellent long service records, stated the report. Service honours were to be presented to Superintendent H. A. Nuttall (31 years gold bar), Secretary Burrows (29 years gold bar), Deputy-Superintend-ent Murray (29 years gold bar), SecondForeman Phillpott (21 years silver bar), Fireman Nees (12 years silver bar) and F;roman Gyde (11 years silver bar). First-Foreman Glentworth had served 23£ years. Next month Firemen McNab, Lethbridge and Pope would receive their five-year service medals. The brigade was up to full strength and the standard of work at practice had been of a high order. The brigade again won the Crabtree Shield and the Stratford-Eltham Shield. This competition had been running 19 years and Eltham had won it 11 times. The local brigade competitions were won as follow: Gilbert Memorial Championship Cup, Fireman McNab; Cresswell Cup, Fireman Ritter; Fake Cup, Fireman Nees; Gavigan Cup, Fireman Potts. The election of officers resulted: FirstForeman, Mr. Glentworth; second-fore-man, Mr. Phillpott; secretary, Mr. Burrows; treasurer, Mr. Gyde; auditor, Mr. H. Murray; honorary surgeons, Dr. D. H. Saunders and Dr. S. W. Crawford; committee, Messrs. H. A. Nuttall, S. Murray, A. M. Burrows, T. Glentworth, W. Homblow, D. Gyde and Phillpott The Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridger) expressed appreciation ofthe brigade’s good services. The brigade was to be congratulated on its very successful year and on the maimer in which the members retained their enthusiasm year after year. The fire brigade certainly had the most strenuous time of any voluntary institution in the town.

The trophies and service bars won during the year were presented by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., who congratulated the brigade on its continued efficiency and its success in the competitions. Mr. Wilkinson assured the brigade that the Eltham residents greatly valued its services. Mr. Nutall had a wonderful record of 31 years of continuous service. Mr. Wilkinson said he was donating a cup for competition this year. Mr. J. Keilar paid tribute to the brigade’s splendid sporting spirit in the competitions and its continued enthusiasm and efficiency. The company was entertained at supper. There were musical items and Mr. O. Sait was song leader. 1 ELTHAM WEEK-END , GOLF. DRAW FOR J. H. MORTON TROPHY. Following is the draw for Mr. J.. H. Morton’s trophy to be played at the Eltham golf links in the week-end over 18 holes:—J. Valintine and T. Fountaine v. F. Maslin and G. Diver, L. Quin and D. Crawford v. J. H. Morton and A. Chrystal, W. Gill and G. Gordon v. R. Lee and W. Hill, L. Abbott and T. Gibson v. J. Stewart and F. Fallows, J. Quin and H. Jones v. L. Gibson and R. Young, S. Cooper and A. Tiplady v. I. Wylds and C. Forth, L. Taylor and R. Hill v. E. Phillipa and T. Syme, A. Stewart and R. McGregor v. F. Clemow and R. Free, H. Wills and B. Oldfield v. H. Carey and N. Phillips, O. Casey and S. McKay v. M. Ritter and J. Casey, J. Campbell and P. de Launay and partners. LEGALITY OF STRIKING RATE. DISCUSSION AT ELTHAM. The next quarterly meeting of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce is to be devoted to a discussion on the finances of local bodies. This decision was made at a meeting of the committee on Wednesday night, when it was resolved to invite representatives of the local bodies concerned to attend and participate in the discussion. The president (Mr. G. H. P. Fitzgerald), pointed out that in Eltham alone the rates were £2OOO in arrears, whereas ten years ago only £484 was overdue. One of the first things to be considered was whether the rates chould be reduced, and whether some people in a position to pay were escaping their obligations. The overdue rates in Eltham in proportion to the amount levied compared very unfavourably with Stratford and Hawera. The president drew attention to the fact that it had been advertised that the Eltham borough rates would be struck on July 21. He said the Municipal Corporations Act provided that no rate could be struck until the estimates had been passed by the council and published. He pointed out to the town clerk (Mr. Macpherson) that no estimates had been published in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act. Mr. MacPherson replied that the estimates would be published on Friday. Mr. Fitzgerald assumed now that the council would give up its intention of striking a rate on July 21 and would delay the matter in order 1 to give ratepayers the statutory opportunity of perusing the estimates, as the estimates had so far been approved not by the council but only by a committee, and consequently could not in point of fact be published a week before the date mentioned for the striking of the rate. ELTHAM COMMERCIAL MEN. MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE. The council of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce met on Wednesday, Mr. G. H. P. Fitzgerald presiding. There were also present Messrs. G. H. Mann, E. Walsh, G. W. Peebles, T. B. Crump and W. A. Tiplady. The following new members were elected: Messrs. W. Hornblow, J. Taylor and J. Bruce Brown, J. C. Hutton (N.Z.), Ltd., Farmers’ Co-op-erative Organisation Society, Ltd., and Bank of New South Wales. The chairman reported that Mr. Tiplady had agreed to carry on the secretaryship without any definite honorarium until a successor was selected. Appreciation of Mr. Tiplady’s action was expressed by members.