FIRE BRIGADES' CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9017, 17 March 1908, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADES' CONFERENCE.

The delegates who attended the U.F.B. A. Conference last week spoak iv warm terms of admiration at the manner in which they were received and entertained during tho session. The arrangements for meeting the delegates at the station, on arrival, are described as perfect, each train having boon met and tho delegates conducted to their respective hotels with all speed ;wid courtesy. Ono delegate who has attended many of the Coufereuces says that ho has nover bofore met with such a porfootsystem of bilk .ing the delegates, nouo of whom had to wait for the least space of time before he was comfortably boused iv ono of tho hotels of the town. From conversations our reporter had with numbers of the delogates, ho learned that great satisfaction was expressed on all sides at the mauuor in which the licensees of the towu attended to their wants; and for up-to-dato hotel arrangements it is considered by tho delegates that Mastertou is in advauco of many of the towns of New Zealand, and compares favourably with the four chief centres.

Of the local committee's work too much cannot bo said, as from tho commencement of the Conference—and prior to tho arrival of the delegatus— everything that could bo possibly done to make for smooth running was accomplished. The Joint Secretaries, Mr E. Praguell and Mr A. E. Wilton, had devised a perfect system to work ou, tho former taking iv baud tho clerical portion of the work, and the latter the outside portion ; thus there was no duplicating,* aud all preliminary arrangements were complete before any of the delegates arrived—a feature" which can only bo properly estimated by those who have attended large Conferences. Of tho sub-Committees, the Ladies' Committee is particularly deserving of special commendation for the manner iv ■■which they had everything prepared, particularly at the picnic at Te Whiti on the Sunday. The Committee consisted of Mesdanies O'Connor, Jackson, Greathead. Johnston, and Misses O'Leary (Ii), Cashion, MrHale, Freeman, Donovau, Greathead aud Keiseuberg. The Banquet' Committee under Foreman Jenkins, Driving Committee under the chairmanship of Lieut. Ewiugtou, aud the Reception Committee under Fireman Gardner, all worked hard iv their respective spheres, in couuoctiou with the Reception Committee, a special meed of praise is due to ex-Captain Prentice, who met every train ou arrival at the station, aud personally saw to the welfare of delegates.

A feature of the Conference, aud quite an iuuovatiou, was the presentation made to the local men by the delegates, aud, coming as a complete surprise, this was the more heartily appreciated by the recipients. Iv regard to Hydrauttnau Church's gold star, it is pointed out that the same evidence which was placed before the Special Committee was placed on record two years ago, aud exSecretary Pickering had gone to a lot of trouble iv preparing the evidence. Secretary Praguell has also done his share in'this directum, and the result of the Special Committee taking a different view of the evidence on this occasion is that Hydrautmau Church has justly received bis liouours.

So enthusiastic have residents of the town been over the Conference that guarantors would readily come forward in the event of a demonstration beiug held in Mastertou. At pres.nt, hosvever, owing to insufficient pressure of water, this cannot be thought of; but it is hoped that a demonstration may be held here in the. near future.

Of the delegates themselves, the residents of the town speak in high terms, as their conduct during the session was most exemplary aud reflects great credit ou the Fire Brigades of the Doiuiuiou.