VALEDICTORY.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16081, 22 April 1924, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

SUPT. GARRETT FAREWELLED. AN ENJOYABLE EVENING. A large ami representative gathering met in Uie reel-room ol the l ire Station on rhursday, to farewell Supei'intendunt A. Garrett on tineve ot his departiwe tor England to represent the United Eire Brigade Association ot New Zealand, at the World’s Conference to be held in connection with the Empire Exhibition. The spacious reel-room had been elaborately decorated lor tile occasion, by an energetic band ot workers. About one hundred and twenty guests assembled, including representatives of the local governing bodies, Miners’ Union, Thames Old Boys’, exfiremen, and visiting firemen. Deputy Sunt. Pratt occupied the chair supported by the Mayor and Supt. Garrett. Apologies were received from—("apt T. Watts, the Deputy-Mayor. Mr E. N. Miller, and Messrs J. Twohill, B Baker, A. Bateman. J. W. Ooutts, R, Rhodes. A. ('Laminin and F. H. Claxton. Musical items were rendered by Fireman Hardman, Mr Garry. Jenkm, Mr Les. White, Mr McMvride, Ml Hocken. Mr W. Johnston. Mr Trembath of Waihi brigade, Mr Beech and the Brigades orchestra. Decorations for service were presented to Fireman Jenkin, til yrs; ? ireman Bateman. 18 yrs; Fireman 0. McDonnell, H yrs; and Fireman A. White 7 yrs. service. The presentations were made by Supt. Garrett. During the evenin'*' the billowing toast was proposed iiv Den. Supt. Pratt who said: ‘•We are assembled to honour and farewell our Siiperiiiiendant who is leaving on a trip to the Home land, there to renresent the N.Z. hire Brigade Association at the \\ orid s Conference to be belli in connection with the Empire Exhibition. The members of the Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade felt they could not allow such an event to happen without expressing the pride and pleasure that we felt in knowing that our Stiperintendant should be unpointed to such an important position. No doubt there would be assembled at that v ” ■ ’

Conference, fire brigade representatives from all r arts of the wide spread Empire, men who have served in the capita of the Empire, and discussion would take place on fire prevention work, which would . fie most interesting and educative from a firefighting point of view. Mr ’Massey, our Prime Minister has visited the O'd land on many occasions to represent the Dominion in connection with tb° Great War but never during my Brigade life has a representative gone from New Zealand to attend a Firemen’s Conference —so we must feel that a great honour lias been conferred on the Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade. We feel sure that our Suprintendent will do honour to the position—he lias been a member of the Thames Fire Brigade for 28 years, served under such distinguished officers as, Superintendents John West. Jas. Paterson, R. R. Menzies, Arch. Burns, and H. Stone, and being a keen competition man has attended most of the large demonstrations held in the Dominion and was chosen as one of the Nr"' Zealand teams that competed in *ustralia.

We expect our Superintendent to be away about six - months, a holiday which is well overdue, aftei serving his town for so many years.

Deputy Sunt. Pratt then on behalf of the Brigade presented Supt. Garrett with a travelling companion. TT i. Worship the 'Mayor ; -Lo spoke eulogising the services of Supt. Garrett in Fire Brigade duty, and in assisting in many functions of local interest: Ins efforts on hehall of the Regimental Band--and mi behalf of the citizens of Thames asked his acceptance of a purse of sovereigns—an evidence of the good wishes of the Thames people. Supt. Garrett, returned than'-** the Brigade for the manner in which they had honoured him. to the Miavor for in’s kind remarks, and the citizens of the Thames for their appreciation iff the Brigade’s services to the town. Deputy Supt. Pratt was then installed as Superintendent during the absence of Supt. Garrett. Sec. Hammond proposed the toast — ‘Local Governing Bodies,’ and the local Institutions, the Miners’ Union and Thames Old Bovs’ Association. Mr T. Rhodes (Mayor) and Or Allan, and Morlcv on behalf of the Borough Council, Mr Graham on behalf of Miners’ Union, and Air E. Watson on behalf of the Thames Old Boys’ Association. Fireman Jenkin proposed the toast of the visiting firemen. Sunt. Stamp of Waihi, and Cap. W. Moore of Paeroa responding. A toast by Foreman Alexander, “Our ex-Firemen”, and duly received and honoured, exFireman Bane, Tngnll. and Willetts responding.