W.V.F. BRIGADE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3251, 14 July 1871, Page 2

W.V.F. BRIGADE.

Sixth Annual Repoet, June sth 1871. Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, — Your com-, mitte have ranch pleasure in presenting this their sixth annual report, with a view of laying before you a brief summary of the past year's proceedings of this brigade. Your committee have to thank the members for their regular attendance at fires, praoticeß» and all meetings where the presence ofthe,brigade have been required ; and are pleased to report the casualties during the past year have boen of an exceptional nature, considering our city is of the most part built in wood, fi^ must hare come within the notice of all th^S^^ heavy destructive fires have occurred fronvj^J time to time in our sister provinces duriag^Hf tho past year. It is evident to all the difli- £f culty we should labor under if a heavy fir© was to take place in our midst — that is, a copious supply of water. Your oommittee have to report that in July of thia year they lost the services of Mr A. Noble as Secretary, through his avocations oalling him to another provinco. Upon resigning the ofßoe he filled with so much satisfaction to the members, he was presented with a beautifully illuminated address and ft purse of sovereigns, as an acknowledgment of the services he had rendered to the brigade.

Your committee have to report, and desire to notice the faot, that several alarms of chimneys being on fire and the burning of furze and rubbish are in themselves the weans of entailing considerable expense and labor on the brigade ; and although these serve In a measure to test the organisation of the brigade, yet there should be some meanß of punishing the partieß who are the immediate cause.

Your committee have to report that during the past year your brigade has been, present on all occasions where duty called it, and kayo

to record the following fires and false alarms, viz., 9 fires and 5 false alarms. Ist. Alarm occurred at tl\o rear of Dr. Featherston's, Thorndon, June 18. Your brigade assisted iti preventing its spread ; the damage done was slight. 2nd. June 24— The alarm was given, which proved to be on the promises of Captain Isoherwood, at the top of Boulton street, to which your brigade used evory exertion to save what it could, and succeeded so far in eaviog a detached building ia the rear from total destruction. 3rd, July 23. — A falso alarm near Mount Cook barracks, occasioned by the burning of * Bonie furze, to which the brigade turned out, and incurred a considerable expenso and labor. 4th. July 23. — Another false alarm, occaeioued by Mr Duko allowing his chimney to take fire. sth. August 30. — The alarm was given, and proved to bo Mr Hirst's tannery, Kaivmrra, to which this brigade proceeded with all possible speed, and were the means by the position they took up and the manner the engine was worked, of considerably reducing Mr Hirst's heavy loss, for which service this brigade paid its own entire expenses. 6th. November 20— A false alarm near the saw mills, Courtenay-place, occasioned by the burning of some rubbish, to which this bri- * gade turned out, fortunately without a great H^rTfirnnr pPr 7th. November 27 — Tho alarm was rung, which proved to be on the premises of the Kainbow Hotel, Kaiwarra, to which this brigade proceeded with an alertness that reflected great credit upon the meritorious purpose for which it is united. When the engine arrived their services wore not required, owing to the exertions of the inhabitantß in the vicinity getting tho fire under by bucket labor. Bth. November 28— The alarm was sounded, which proved to be a stable on the premises of Mr Warburton, on the Terrace, to which this brigade proceeded, and exerted itself in assisting to Bave tho adjoining building and extinguishing the fire. 9th. December 7 — At about half-past eleven at night the alarm rung. This brigade hastened with all despatch, and succeeded in getting water on to tho burning building, which proved to be tho property of Mr Lovelock, Cuba-street, which resulted in its total destruction, in spite of the effort made to save it. 10th. December 20— Fire on the promises Occupied by Mr Lionel Harris, Willis-street. [The alarm was given in the early part of the evening. This brigade was soon on the spot, and succeeded in stopping the fire and saving a considerable amount of property, for which service a gentleman in the neighbourhood presented the brigade with two guineas as an appreciation of their services. 11th. January 4.— Fire on Tinakori Road on the premises of Mr Williams, grocer and general dealer. The Thorndon end bell sounded the alarm, but before the engines had arrived, tho fire had done its work, and the engines were not required. 12th. January 19. — Fire in Taranulri-street on the premises of A. Levy, grocer and general dealer. When the alarm bell sounded, tho engines were quickly on the spot j but, in spite of all the exertion» of tho brigade, the whole premises were consumed, which is attributable to the scarcity of water. 13th. A false alarm at Thorndon, at tho rear of C. J. Pharazyn's premises, occasioned by the burning of some furze and rubbish, which caused a considerable expense to the brigade. Your committee would hero remark in scrutinising the foregone events, to compliment the members upon their being the means of saving a very considerable amount of property through their united efforts, and uufliuchingly obeying of order. . Your committee are pleased to report that your engines and gear are in thorough good repair mid working order, fit for any emergency, night or day. Your committee have during the past year appointed a night watchman, for the purpose of giving tho alarm at night in case of firo ; also, to keep lights burning during the night. Your committee aro pleased to record the fact that during the past year your accounts have been received, and passed through committee in due form, and regularly paid, without an exception, since the painful proceedings this brigade were obliged to take against one of its members. Your committee here report of the beneficial effect this brigade has experienced by the revision of the laws as they previously existed j with respect to the monthly subscriptions of the members, your cornniiltee aro entirely satisfied. Your committee were pleased to notice that on the night of nomination of officers, the Brigade did not forget old tried friends, and would here call your attention to the fact of tho contract being lot of procuring a powerful fire alarm bell, Mr E. W. Mills boing the contractor, and to be manufactured in Wellington. Your committee would here notice the fact that the procurement of an alarm beli originated with this brigade, and in friendship invited our fellow-firemen to act in concert with us in procuring it, so as to share in tho universal acknowledgment of the public. Your committee would here acknowledge the pleasing fact to all, that the brigade is steadily advancing in popularity and efficiency. The roll at present numbers some 40 members, and the decrease in numbers is to be accounted for by a number having left the city to seek employment elsewhere ; but your secretary is pleased to record the fact that ho is in communication with most of tho absent members. The. desirability of some new hose was long felt, until E. Pearce, Esq., furnished the brigade with some five hundred feet j also, by the same gentleman, this brigade have received ©no more engine, which now makes the number at your command four. Your committee -would again call the attention of the brigade to the best means of furnishing horees, so as they could bo depended upon to be staunch, as it is of vital importance to the public at large. The brigade are at present in want of suitable ladders for general uso at a fire, and to perfect the members in ladder practice. Extensive repairs have been done to the entire planb of this brigade during the paßt year. Your committee would here remind you that the claim for capitation under the volunteer regulations act ha3 been forwarded during the year through the proper hands for payment. Your Committee would here call your attention to the present dilapidated state of the brigades uniforms, and after a service of from five to six years, the red coat ia beginning to look seedy, and in consequence the brigade Bhould endeavor > to procure at an early date f 1 're change of apparel, assisted by volunlbscriptions of insurance agents and public. ? committee would call your attention iolution passed at a former meeting for •pose of memorialising tho several insurance agents of this city to award this brigade an increased annual grant in aid of ita support, as the amount at present is not sufficient, without encroaching upon the members' sick and accident fund, to carry it on | yvith,the reason being that the appliances have ] increased double these two years past, there- j fore requiring an increase of money to sup- j port them in their present state. As a firo brigade most certainly there is no other public body in existence which can for an instant be placed in comparison with it j nor is there another whioh affords tho same means of dutiful employment calculated to give more pleasure to the mind than that of assisting in the relief of those of our follow creatures when suffering through Joss by fire. When the alarm sounds, thore cannot be anything more gratifying to a fireman than to know his duty culls him to a praiseworthy purpose There must be, then, some great and good principle, by the aid of which wo can accomplish all that is required from us. And to fulfil these principles, wo must have strict observance to law and order of the brigade,

and endeavor to make it a credit to oursolves and the city, and beneficial to the public at large. Your committee hero call your attention to tho benefit given by tho P.A.D.C. in aid of the members' fund, which, previous to December last, had been completely drained of every shilling therein. And your committee in this report beg to thank tho P.A.D.C. for their kindness in bringing about the performance that has placed the members' fund in a healthy condition. Your committee, in concluding this report, would fain express a hope that the members of the brigade will endeavor to retain thoir present efficiency, and give their undivided attendance to fires, meetings, and practices through the forthcoming yoar (and that through the aid of Divine Providence the City of Wellington will continue to be free from the ravages of fire) and remember the motto, " United to save, and always ready." Eeceipts and Expenditure of the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade for the year ending June 3rd, 1871. EECEIPTS. £ s. d. To cash in bank in Juno, 1870 ... 0 7 3 „ Insurance Companies subscriptions ... „, 75 0 0 „ General public do ... 55 1 0 „ L&L &Q-. Insurance Co for repairs to engines, &c. 15 18 9 „ Forfeited for working at fires, andjoverrun accts. 13 0 „ Borrowed from member's fund 65 0 9 £212 10 9 EXPENDITURE. By rewards, drawing engines to fires and practices ... 26 18 0 „ Labor working engines at fires 25 7 0 „ Repairs to engines, member's room and gear ... ... 30 5 6 „ Uniform, flags, and repairs to same ... 19 15 21 „ Oil, candles, and sundries ... 19 15 7 „ Refreshments at fires and practice ... ... ... 14 19 11 „ Advertising, printing, and stationery 25 8 7 „ Labor cleaning engines and hose 14 0 0 „ Watchman 2 8 10 „ Expenses to member's fund.,. 816 4 „ Repayment of forfeit, &c, to general fund 1 3 0 „ Do two accounts to late SubTreasurer, and not paid by him 2 5 0 „ Cash in hand ... 0 17 0£ „ Do in bank ... 20 10 9 Balance 21 7 0J£212 10 9 MEMBER'S FUND. — EECEIPXB. To cash members subscriptions and fines 19 7 0 „ Press Amateur Dramatic Club 45 13 9 £65 0 9 EXPENDITURE. By Registration and fine on postage of donation received „, 0 12 „ Donation to the C.V.F.B. ... 110 „ Expenses at the P.A.D.C. performances 7 14 2 8 16 4 „ Balance lent to General Fund 56 4 5 £65 0 9 Audited and found correct this sth day of June, 1871. E. Tolley, R. Austin, Auditors. Wo, the undersigned, have examined the items of expenditure amounting to £191 2s ll^d, and certify that vouchevs have been produced for that amount (excepting a sum of 16s, item " E"). We also find that £20 10s 9d appears to tho credit of the Brigade in the Bank Book on tho 3rd instant. Edwabd Peahcz. Q-eohge Hunteu. Wellington, 30th June, 1871. Q-. H. Wethehill, Hon. Secretary.