W.V.F. BRIGADE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3219, 7 June 1871, Page 2

W.V.F. BRIGADE.

, V • Pressure on our space compelled us to leave over the following report from our last issue. The following are the details of tho business of tho evening. After the minutes of tho previous meeting had been read and confirmed, the Secretary read a batch of correspondence. A letter from the Press Amateur Dramatic Club, tendering the proceeds of their performance in aid of the .Brigade ; a letter was read from Mr N. Marchant, announcing that tho tender for casting the fire alarm bell, at the rate of Is BJ-d per lb ; a letter from Mr A. Krull regretted that indisposition prevented him from attending the annual meeting ; a long and highly complimentary letter to the Brigade from Mr James Osgood, in acknowledging the receipt of their illuminated address with which they had presented him, was also read. In reply to a question from a member, as to why Captain Whiteford's name did not appear in tho letter announcing tho acceptance of the tender for tho alarm bell, Captain Whitefoed said : All I can tell you is that as Captain Moss is chairman of the Bell Committee, he was the only one required to sign the document. Captain Wilson -said that a feeling of dissatisfaction was pretty general that after they had originated Hie idea of obtaining an alarm bell, the name of their captain did not appear as well as the name of Captain Moas. Ho thought it did not look right or becoming to the W.Y.F. Brigade. Tho Seobetaby then read the balance sheet. Some discussion ensued as to tho appointment of auditors. The Secretary was of opinion that by tho rules under which they wero then working, they wero not required to go outside tho brigade for auditors. Member Tokley could not regard the representatives of tho Insurance Companies as outsiders ; they wero rather the mainstay of the brigade, and should at least have an opportunity offered them of ascertaining how their contributions were disbursed. Several [other members took tho tho same view. Archdeacon Stock: wished to know whether tho bularieo sheet was to be printed in one of the newspapers, as at present, and although it had been audited •within the brigado, it could not be eaid to be audited in tho efcrict sense of tho word. Captain Whitefoed said tho balance sheet

would bo audited that evening bofore it went into the papers ; and he would see that it was properly done. Archdeacon Stock : It would bo bettor to 300 that everything is strictly carried out. We got into difficulties bofore through not strictly adhering to the rules laid down for us. Member E. Tolley proposed that Mr George Hunter, and Mr E. Pearco be requcßtod to act as auditors for tho ensuing 12 months. Carried, unanimously. The annual report was then read and reoeived. Member E. Tolley thought there appeared to bo some hesitation displayed in commenting upon tho report ; but as he thought tho report disclosed one fact which pressed for attention, he had no such feeling, and would direct tho attention of all present to the auomalous way in which both brigades were supported. The Wellington Brigade had a roll of twice tho mombers on tho Central Brigade roll ; they had four ongincs to look after, and they had of course to bear a correspondingly increased expense at fires of any magnitude— and yet they only received from the insuranco companies exactly the same contribution as was given to the Central Brigade. Considering the Bmall balance that lay to the credit of the brigade to begin the year upon, and the dilapidated appearanco of their uniform (which had done excellent service for a number of years), they had not o. very encouraging prospect before them. Captain WniTEPOHD said he was not very clear how the Brigade was 3oing to get on for the want of funds during the ensuing year, as they had an exceedingly small balance in hand. The Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, who ought to have been aware that either June or July was tho month in which they wont round canvassing tho public for subscriptions, and though ho believed their month was November, they had gone round so a3 to anticipate tho Wellington Brigade. The proceeding seemed hardly fair; and it would be idle in them attempting to go round so soon after the Centrals. If unfortunately a heavy fire should occur, they would probably find the funds exhausted. Member Toli-EY pointed out that out of the £75 which the brigade had to receive from the Insurance Companies as an annual subscription, £56 of it had to be refunded to tho members' fund on account of advances mado from it j and he understood that by a resolution at a provious meeting tho members' fund was to bo deposited in tho Post Offico Savings Bank, so that it would not be available for a similar purposo hereafter. Captain Wilson thought it was high time they had not only a separate depositary for the sick and accident fund, but also that it should be duly registered as such, and carried out in a proper manner, so that they could invest it and make the best uso they could of tho money. This was a thing from which no o<ao but the brigade should expect to derive a benefit. They were now a largo body, and they could not cay how soon some of them might need its assistance. Mr Peatice was then called to tho chair during tho election of oflicera. Member Tolley proposod, and Mr Bird seconded, that Captain A.. Whiteford bo reelested. As there was no opposition, Captain Whiteford was unanimously elected. Mr Puarce, before vacating the chair, said that although ho was occupying a position in which it was more becoming to listen than to speak, ho must congratulate the brigade upon re-electing their former captain. They must entertain in tho slightest degree that the services of tho brigade were not fully appreciated by thoso who were best able to judgo of tho value of thciv services. He had glanced cursorily over the accounts, and so far as could be seen in that way they were all perfectly satisfactory. Ho fully recognised the justice of the brigade's claim to a larger contribution from the Insurance Agents, from the fact that they had more engines and a greater number of mon than tho Central Brigado ; and he made | not the slightest doubt tho agents would view the matter in the same light, though at present he was merely speaking as an individual, not as a representative of an Insurance Company. He had no reason, however, to believo that his views would not bo ondorsed by tho othor I agonts. As to tho matter of |uniform, which had beon referred to, he was quite sure also that if representations were made in a proper | and business-like manner some assistance would be given them— not perhaps tho wholo amount, as they could not expect that, but a substantial assistance. Tho othar brigade had received euch assistance, and the "Wellington was as much entitled to it as the other. Fortunately Wellington had beon spared during the past twelve months the calamity of any great fire ; but ho felt certain that if any buoli disaster should overtako them, it would not be through tho want of exertion on tho part of the Wellington Fire Brigado. Captain Whitefoud pithily acknowledged the compliment paid him by re-election. T. Wilson and A. Austin were proposed for the offico of junior captain. A division was called for, the candidates in the meantime retiring. Tho result was that T, Wilson was elected. Junior Captain Wilson thanked tho brigade for tho honor conferred upon him, and assured them he would always do his best to merit their confidence ; and, iv caso of fire, ho thought they would not find him far off. On tho motion for tho election of Senior Lieutenant being made, Member Austin objected on tho ground that by tho rules it should be done by ballot, and if he was thrown out by such a process he would protest against the election and movo for a new one. After some discussion, tho election wa3 proceeded with in the form decided upon by tho meeting, and Mr Susans was elected Senior Lieutenant. For tho office of Junior Lieutenant Members Hut chins, M'Guire, and Fisk were proposed. Member Fisk, however, begged to retire in favor of Member M'Quire. Member M'Guire was deciare'J elected. Considerable discussion ensued as to the appointment of a Treasurer. Ultimately Mr Fisk was proposed, but ho declined on the ground that there were many others in tho Brigade more competent to fill the offico. Member Tolley also declined to stand for the office, and suggested that it would bo highly gratifying both to tho public and the Brigade if Archdeacon Stock would show that ho had not lost bis former confidence in tho Brigade by once more consenting to act as their Treasurer. Archdeacon Stock said that the only difficulty was that as he could not spare time to attend the regular monthly meetings, his duty would merely consist in signing cheques, &c, he would, practically, therefore have no control over the funds. There was no reason why should not appoint a Treasurer fro>a amongst themselves. If they only did their duty in seeing that the Treasurer's bank-book was duly examined at the monthly meetings and again make tho mistake of trusting him too much, they ran no danger of allowing their affairs to get into disorder. Members Fisk and Austin were then proposed for the office, when Member Fisk was declared -elected. Member Wethorall was unanimously roelected Secretary. Members Hitch and Bird wero proposed and olected hranchmen. Henry Wood and Richard Donovan were nominated as branchmen by Captain Wilson, and unanimously olected. Branchraan Hitch begged to be released from tho appointment of branch man. Captain Whiteford then nominated Edward Tolly, who was elected unanimously. Members Tolly and Bird were proposed as members of tho Standing Committee for No. 1 Company. Members J. Austin and Langston were elected in a similar capacity for No. 2. A vote of thanks being proposed to Archdeacon Stock, the late Treasurer, Archdeacon Stock said ho was sorry that ho had boon forced to decline tho honor of eorving as treasurer, and they must not there-

fore suppose that he had lost interest in the brigade; in fact, ho had this year shown his interest in subscribing towards the funds of tho brigade ; and when their new alarm boll should awake him — and ho might cay he had not been awako very often lately, owing doubtless to the inefficiency of the prosent bells — ho would be found ou the spot and working as hard as one member had been kind enough to say ho had seen him do on a former occasion. He felt it was tho duty df every citizeu to give what assistance he could to protect his give what assistance he could to protect his neighbours' property, especially in the caso of fire. The best way to do this was to havo a thoroughly efficient fire brigado,becauso ho had seen a lire brigade do that which no band of ordinary citizens,however resolute and anxious, could have done, simply because they had not tho experience nor undergone the drill in practising together. Several votes of thanks being given terminated the proceedings. .