FIRE BRIGADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6771, 7 February 1890, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADE.

SUPPER TO THE OLD MEMBEES. The Foresters 1 Hall was the scene of a specially interesting gathering last night, when the members of the Chrißtchurch Fire Brigade entertained at supper those ex-members of the Brigade who volunteered to fill their places during the visit of the Brigade to Donedin. The firemen, old and young, were seated at tables, well furnished with eatables and drinkables, and decorated with flowers and some fine ferns lent by Superintendent Turton, who presided. On his right was Mr W. Harris, Superintendent o£ the Brigade for many years, and among those present were many of those who, in years gone by, helped to xaise the Brigade to the state of efficiency for which it is distinguished. One of these was Mr "W. E. Samuels, the oldest fireman in the room, who joined the Brigade thirty years ago. Several members of the Railway Brigade were also present. Mr Turton read apologies for absence from Hia Worship the Mayor, Councillor Gray, Chairman of the Fire Brigade Com* mittee, and some old firemen who were usable to be present. The health of "The Queen" having been loyally drunk, Mr ; Turton presented bars for two years' ser- | vice to Engineer J. Fraser and to Foreman F. Smith. He also presented three year i service certificates, from the Brigade, to ex-membe.'rs E. Atkinson and Rose-Smith, and to Fireman C. Hoggan. The last named was also the recipient of a certificate from the United Fire Brigades Association. The health of His Excellency the Governor having been honoured, Superintendent Turton proposed the health of the old firemen, whom he thanked heartily for volunteering to fill the place of the Brigade during the visit of the latter to Dunedin. He said that it was proposed to hold a picnic of the Brigade in about a fortnight's time, and be hoped that some of the old firemen would consent to fill the places of the members for a few hours on that occasion. (Ex-Foreman Gourlay here called out "Hold up your hands, those | who'll volunteer," and all the veteranß ; j present responded by puttiug up their hands, amid the applause of the younger men.) Mr. Turton E»id he was very gratified at tHio manifestation of goodwill He proposed. "Tba Ex-Firemen," coupled w^ttx;the»aias-of Mr Harria. :Tbj& Jtaa&fc. Jhaving. ieen . iojaonxed, Ifljr

He said that while the Brigade was in Dunedin the old members did their duties moßt satisfactorily. On the firat evening after the departure of the Brigade eight old members elapt at each station, and they were on the alert all the time. Ho say that when the picnic wa3 held thd old members would be ready to volunteer. He would not say more himself, but would call on Mr Gourlay, who was in charge of Chester street station at the time he spoke of, to further respond. Mr Gourlay said thai he could look round the room and see some men with whom he had been asseciated five and twenty years ago, and that fact showed the esprit tie corps which kept firemen together. He had left the Brigade several years ago, but only because he went to live away from town. Had he remained he would perhaps have had as long a string oi decorations aa his old friend, Mr W. B. Hobbs, than whom a better fireman never existed; The work of the fireman was, he considered, even more honourable than that of the soldier, for the fireman risked his life for his fellow citizann. and very often got but little for it. He urged the members never to forget their motto "Alwayß ready." He was particularly pleased to see Mr Harris present, as he had had something to do with that gentleman's having been chosen as Superintendent of the Brigade many years ago. Ex-foreman Triggs, E. C. Ashby, W. Johnston, C Samuels and T. Hobbs also 1 responded. Mr Triggs referred specially to the creditable display the Brigade made at Dunedin. j Ex-foreman Gourlay proposed the health of Superintendent Turton, bearing testimony to the excellent manner in which Mr Turton had always done his work. He suggested that the gathering should not separate without drinking the memory of a good man who had died in harness; Captain Lightfoot, of the Nelson Brigade. He proposed the health of Superintendent Turton. The toast was most heartily drunk, and suitably responded to by Mr Turton, who remarked that at the first fire at which he served Mr Gourlay was his Foreman. He hoped that the old firemen would give their assistance if ever it, was required. The city was congratulated on having had no very large fires for a long time, and he would do his utmost to make the fires as small as they possibly could be. Great good had been done by the chemical engines, though Mr Harris had had to stand a good deal of chaff when he introduced the first one. In a week's time he would hold a test of the two chemical engines, and he hoped that a good number of the old firemen would turn out t6 ccc it. He proposed the health of the Railway Brigade, who, he remarked, worked under greater disadvantages than the Chriatchurch Brigade, as their horses were kept a long' way from the engine, which .was much heavier than those of the Christchurch Brigade. ' , The toast was enthusiastically drunk and suitably acknowledged by Foreman T. Steward. Ex-Superintendent W. Harris proposed •the "Press," which waa duly acknowledged. The Chairman proposed "The Memory of Captain Lightfoot," whose death he considered a loss to the country, as well as to the Nelson Brigade. The toast was drunk in solemn silence. The toast of "The Ladies" was honoured, and a very pleasant evening was brought to a close. During the evening some very good songs and recitations were given by the past and present members of the Brigade, Mr Emmett accompanied on the pianoforte very well indeed, and Mr Seelen contributed,* flute aolo. The affair was got up by a Committee consisting of Lieutenant Smith, Foreman Taylor, Engineer Watts, Branchman Ennpson and Fireman Hobba, to whom great credit is due. A Faib, Beautiful Skih.— Sulpholiiw Soap gives the .natural tint and pe&oh-like bloom of a. perfect complexion, makes the skin smooth, supple, healthy, comfortable. 6d tablets' Everywhere.— [Adyx.l The Marquis of Dufferin and Ava has been elected rector for St Andrew's UniverBity, in the room of Mr A. J. Balfour, by a majority of three vote 3, receiving 103, and Lord Balfour of Burleigh 100. ; A German resident in Paris (Herr Krohne) has offered the German Government for the creation of a German academy in Berlin, on the model of the French Academy. It is to consist of forty j members, and its duty would be to preserve the'-Gexman. language, from corruption or t-jdec*y.. r j3ifiChancellQxottherEmpire.Tiould