MARTON FIRE BRIGADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 73, 27 March 1945, Page 7

MARTON FIRE BRIGADE

SIXTY-SIX YEARS AGO

(0.C.) Marton, March 26. With the demonstration of the United Districts Fire Brigades’ Association at Marton during Easter, a brief summary of the Marton Fire Brigade should prove interesting. A public meeting was called on January 29, 1879, to consider forming a lire Brigade. It was formed and called Marton Volunteer Fire Brigade and the following officers were appointed and members elected:—Captain, A. Dick; lieutenant, S. W. Avery; secretary, R. J. Harris; treasurer, Joseph Harris; foreman, Jas. Ritchie; auditor, R. E. Beckett; branchman, J. Anderson; hon. surgeon. Dr. Skerman; firemen, W. R. Sncllgrove, H. Snellgrove, Andrew Mclndoe, W. W. Fulton, R. E. Beckett, M. Marr, A. Batten, J. C. Fulton A. D. Clemett, W. Follett, W. Nicol, W. R. Jermy, G. Gifford, Jos. Sutcliffe, W. Parkes, Louis T. Symes, John Follett, John Aitken, M. Bell, W. S. Watt. E. H. Humphrey, G. H. Bredin, H. Jolly, H. Collier, G. N. Stewart, J. L. Wiltshire, John Anderson, Chas. Parkinson, John Mcßae, James Prosser, John J. McDonald, F. M. Deighton. First honorary members elected were Joseph Harris, David Mewett, and the first life members Andrew Mclndoe and J. Mclntosh, all of whom have passed the Great Divide. The first plant bought was a small engine from the Wanganui Brigade in 1879, for £lOO. This was housed in a shed at the back of Prosser's Club Hotel, in High Street, until 1883. The first shed suitable for a fire station was leased in Broadway in 1883, for £l2 a year.

A building was bought from Mr Polgreen in Lower High Street in 1887 for £lBO The present station was built by the Borougft Council in 1910. The first firebell was the bell of the Presbyterian Church. A Ford car chassis was bught in 1919 and became the old engine, with a 50-gallon chemical engine attached. There have been 12 captains, 14 lieutenants, 20 foremen, nine secretaries and 12 treasurers of the brigade. Pressure with the first water supply was about 451 b to the square inch, and with the new supply there is now more than 1001 b per square inch. The following are the names of past captains and superintendents: A. Dick, J. Prosser, Lloyd Jones, Chas. Parkinson. S. Gibbons, J. Anderson, H. C. Gronn, J. Campbell, J. McDonald Superintendent R. A. Anderson, D. Fawcett and the present superintendent, Geo. Grey. S. Gibbons served 14 years as captain, and J. McDonald 18 years. There have been 10 secretaries—R. J. Harris, R. E. Beckett, W. H. Snellnrove, E. H. Humphrey, J. Smith, J. Anderson. A. Runciman, J. W. Thompson L. Mclndoe and the present secretary, R. A. Griffin. W. H. Snellqrove served 16 years and L. Mclndoe 25 years in cffice. Five members received 25-year gold stars —the late J. McDonald and H. C. Grcnn L. Mclndoe, L. Miles and R. Anderson. In 1929 the brigade celebrated its jubilee, which continued from Easter Saturday to Easter Tuesday. Present Members. The present members of the brigade are: Superintendent, G. W. Grey; deputy-superintendent, W. H. Jones; foremen, J. Jefferson, C. J. Horan; secretary, Fireman R. A. Griffin; firemen, A. S. Campbell, F. G. Thompson, W. Rushton, A. J. S. Rawson, L. G. Thompson, P. W. Upchurch, W. E. Kebble, O. E. Gibbons; messenger. G. R. Gtey. Members on Active Service: Firemen A. S. Blackledge, K. R. Holland, W. H. Holland, F. L. Hooper, W. J. Sutton. Life Honorary Members: Ex-Cap-tain H. C. Gronn, ex-Superintendent R. A. Anderson; ex-Secretary L. Mclndoe, ex-Fireman L. Miles. The brigade is now well equipped with a Hudson engine and a V 8 trailer pump, capable of pumping 500 gallons a minute, and a good supply of fire hose.