HOKITIKA VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

West Coast Times, Issue 145, 6 March 1866, Page 2

HOKITIKA VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.

The usual monthly meeting of tho members of this Brigado was held last night at the Harp of Erin Hotel, the attendance at whioli was meagre, as but IV out of 60 members mndo thoir appearance. Tho business was oommonood by Mr Maofarlano reading tho minutes of the provious meeting, tho adoption of whioh was proposed by Mr Thompson, seconded by Mr Dyer and oarriod. Mr Millard, the Captain of the Brigade, thon read the correspondence } ono letter from Dunedin relative to scarlet flannel, whioh is to arrivo in a fortnight and at onco bo mado into shirts, and tho other from Mr Olaxton of Ballarat, stating that the oarriago was already shipped in tho Alma, and that the other apparatus would be forwarded immediately. , Mr Maofarlane informod the meeting that ho had received a private lottor from Mr Olaxton of Ballarat, whereby he was told that Messrs Spenoo Brothers had caused the delay by endeavoring to purohaso the apparatus in Melbourno instead of. sending to Ballarat where it could bo mado under tho immediate inspection of Mr Olaxton. Mr Millard said that ho had muoh pleasure in informing tho meeting that Mr Sale had granted a piece of land 20 feet by 60 feet, next to the Assay Offlco in tho Camp Beserve, whioh land would give thorn 20 foot at tho buok of the building for a boll tower, ns the

building was to tako up tho frontage of 20 foot and a dopth of 40 feet, and to bo 24 feot in height. Ho would also stoto that as soon as the building was commoncod tho grant of money from tho Govemmont could bo obtained. Ho would now submit to the meeting a plan of tho proposed building, whioh would cost from £250 to £300, drawn by Mr Smith, tho arohiteot, for thoir inspection. Mr Mnofavlano said that tho build ing was not,- in his opinion, 'high enough, according to tho plan submitted, as tho engine houso would be but nino feot high, and tho upper room for mooting but about sovon feet six inohos in height, and ho would propose that the plan bo adopted with ono alteration, whioh was an incroaso of elevation of the building by four feot.

Mr Ooopor soconded tho proposition, whioh was carried.

Mr, Millard thon distributed tho badges, which aro of black glazod' leather, with tho lottors H.V.F.B. and a numbor underneath, painted white. Tho badges aro fastened to tho left arm of oaoh mombor-by a Btrap. Mr Horn proposed that, as tha carriage was likely to arrivo in a few days Mr Millard should bo empowered to call tenders, at onco, for tho erection of an ongino room. Mr Ecclosfiold socondod tho motion, which wrs carriod.

Mr Millard thon presontedaccounts amounting to £9 6s 6d for badgos, books and bollriug, tho passing of which was proposed by Mr Hudson and carried.

Tho admission of tho following gontlomen as mombers was thon ballotted for, and oaoh was duly elected. Their names aro J. Valentino, Donaldson, Sousted, Bailey, Casey and T. Ecclosfiold. Mr Hobbcs was thon proposod, and oloction by ballot will tako placo at the next monthly meeting. Tho resignations of Messrs Findlater, Moany, ond M,oullooh woro thon read, and MrHndson having proposed that these resignations bo accepted, whioh Mr Dyer seconded, tho proposition was carriod. Tho election of Mr Cooper as a member of tho committee in tho stead of Mr MaoOulloch, resigned, having then taken placo, and the roll callod, and monthly subscriptions collected, the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to tho captain of tho brigade, who occupied the choir.