FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13877, 10 July 1919, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADE.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The thirty-third annual meeting of the Masterton Fire Brigade was held at the Fire Station last night, Superintendent E. Freeman being in the chair. . The secretary's annual report showed that the number of musters recorded was 38, of which Deputy-Superintendent E. Jenkins and Fireman L. Lewis attended all. The past year has been of momentous interest, inasmuch as in ember last Germany was brought to her fl knees, signed the Armtistice, and now " Peace, and the great war which has de» vastated Europe and shaken civilisation has come to a conclusion, in favour of right and liberty. While the armistice was being signed, the influenza epidemic broke out in New Zealand, and this brigade suffered a distinct loss in the death of Fireman Schaare, while Fireman BY Braggins suffered the loss of his wife. The demands of the Military Service. Act having called'on Superintendent T. '■ Jenkins" to go.to camp, ho resigned his T position, and the Fire Board decided to i appoint a permanent superintendent. Superintendent Freeman, of Te Kuiti, was appointed. _' The most satisfactory portion of this'

report is to record the safe return of our . soldier .firemen .from the front, except' Fireman ,T. Clark. This brigade was represented at the front or called up to camp, by sixteen members, one, Gunner H. Selby, M.M., having made the sup : reme sacrifice. This is a record any institution may well be proud of. The_ jhyff Shield wag £g£i» coape'ted A for, and was won by Fireman H. having won the three fcYQUt-s and m also the Kingdon Memorial Medal, pre- ~ sento4 D 7 rS. Kingdon. The an'liVat' cwillerence of tho United Fire Brigades' Association of New Zealand was held at Invercargill, and the brigade was ably bySecYe-' tary Harder. The United District Fire BridageS' Association held their annuSh conference a* Napier, and this Brigade was represented by Superintendent E. Freeman, who is to be congratulated on being elected vice-president of that Association. , The balance-sheet shows receipts to be*B| £76 14s 7d, while the expenditure was BJ[ £56 9s sd, leaving a balance of £20 5s 2d. Tho Trust account shows receipts, £22 10s, and liabilities approximately £20.

During the year the following honours were won:—Fireman B. Braggins, gold bar, 27 years' service; ex-Superintend-ent T. Jenkins, bar, 23 years; Fireman A. H. Pickering, bar. 23 years; Fireman , J. Butcher, bar, 19 years: Superintendent E. Freeman, bar, 19 years; Fireman L. Saycrs, bar, 9 years; Fireman W. Clark, bar, 9 years; Lieutenant W. j_ Land, bar, 7 years; Fireman G. Barr, ■ medal, 5 years; Fireman J. McKenzie, medal, 5 years; Secretary J. Harder, medal, 5 years; while Firemen J. O'Connor, H. Caldwell, B. -Chapman, W. Wood and J. Clarke, each having three years' service, get certificates.

During the evening opportunity was taken of congratulating ex-Superintend-ent T. Jenkins on his appointment as Government representative on the Fire Board, members wishing him success ,in. his promotion, which he had earned and deserved.

The following officers were elected:—JH Superintendent, E. Freeman; Deputy Superintendent, E. Jenkins (both appointed by the Board); Lieutenant, W. Land (re-elected); Senior Foreman, F. Cole (re-elected); Junior Foreman, B. Chapman; Secretary, J. Harder (reelected); Branchnien, H. Braggins, S. Dixon, J. Butcher, W. Blinkhorne, J. Stewart and J. O "(Connor; Hydrantrrteii, " L. Lewis, W. Clark, and C. Cole; Brigade 's representatives on executive, H. . Braggins; social committee, Superin- ', tendcnt Freman, Deputy-Superintendent E. Jenkins, Lieutenant W. Land, Fore- , i man B. Chapman, Firemen H. Braggins 1 , -. C Clark, D. Loughlin, N. Shepherd, B. | Braggins and Secretary Harder; bil-' Hards committee, Deputy-Superintend-ent E. Jenkins, Lieutenant W. Land, Firemen C. Clark, S. Dixon and F. Sewell; trustees, Firemen T. Jenkins and A. H. Pickering.

At the close of the evening Superintendent ' Freman thanked the officers and members for the way they had rallied around hint and assisted him in the_ carrying-out of his duties. He asktjA for the loyal support of one and all the incoming year. The other officers thanked the members for electing them to tho different positions.