FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3349, 18 November 1871, Page 3

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT.

Mr Chairman And Gentleman, — In presenting to you our fourth annual report, your committee will givo you a brief summary oi the businoss of tho past year, and afc tho same timo have to thank members for fchoir regular attendance at fires, meetings, practices, &c. We have to report during fcho past twelvo months seven fires and two false alarms. Ist. November 28, 1870— About 12.30 p.m. a fire occurred at Mr Warburton'a, Terrace. Your brigade engine was quickly on the spot, and succeeded iv confining the firo to an outbuildiug. 2nd. December 7, 1870— Aboufc 11 p.m., Mr Lovelock's premises in Cuba street, found to be on fire. Your Brigade rendered great assistance, and succeeded in extinguishing tho fire before any greafc amounfc of damage was done. 3rd. December 20, 1870— About 8 p.m. fcho premises of Messrs L. Harris and R. Porfc, in Willis street, were found fco be on fire. Your Brigade was soon on tho spot, and succeeded in saving a large amounfc of property. 4th. January 4, 1871— About 4 am., Mr Williams' store, Tinakori Road, was found to bo on fire. In spite of every effort, was ! entirely destroyed. sth. January 19, 1871— Aboufc 2.30 a.m., Mr Levy's store, Taranaki sfcreefc, found to bo on fire. Your brigade did fcheir utmost to extinguish fche same, bufc on acoount of there being a scarcity of water, fche building was entirely consumed ; bufc succeeded in saving adjoining buildings. 6fch. Your services wero nofc again required till fcho 18th of June, about 4 a.m. when tho property of Mr Woods, Pipitea Point was found to bo in flames. Your engine quickly extinguished the fire, 7th. July 12, 1871— Aboufc 9 ".a.m., fire broke oufc in fche stablos of Mr M'lntosh, New Zealander Hotel, by which they were nearly destroyed. Your brigade did great service j in preventing the fire spreading to fche Hotel, unfortunately this fire was !attendod by loss of life fco a man named William Andrews, who i was burnt to death while asleep in a loft in fcho stable. Bth. August 29, 1871— Alarm of fire afc Thorndon. The flames having been caused by a chimney taking fire, which put your brigade to a deal of unnecessary expense. ] 9Ui. October 27, 1871— Aboufc 4 p.m., an j alarm of fire afc the Government Buildings. Fortunately, your services wero nofc required. In epitomizing the above, your committee havo to state that your engines were on evory occasion afc fche said fires, and your members did good servico, and were the meanß of saving a vast amount of property. Your committee havo to inform you that; your plant and gear have been considerably increased during the lasfc twelve months, as will be seen by the annexed list, which has caused greafc additional expense fco your committee. It is fcheir intention fco ask the Insurance Companies for thoir grant in aid to be increased, which thoy hope will be agreed fco, so as to further enablo your committe to proouro additional plant in the ensuing year. Your lato secrertary, Mr L. Harris, placed in our hands bis resignation, on account of his duties calling him to a distant parfcof the colony. Your committee have been fortunate in obtaining tho valuablo services of Mr William Boyd for the past few months, who will bo permanently appointed as your hon secretary fchis evening, no other gentlemen boing proposed. Your committee havo to report the flourishing Btate of the Bick and accident fund, which now amounts to £112 6s Gd. Your committee have to report fchafc tho alarm bell will shortly be erected, which, they hope, will give entire satisfaction, the present delay boing caused by tho inability of getting tho timber required for the erection of the tower. Appended is a list of subscriptions for the past year. In concluding this report, your committee hope fcho members will endeavor to retain their present; efficiency, and continue to givo tbeir attendance to fires, meetings, and prac tices, aud remember the metto — " United to Save." Wil. Boyd, Wellington, Nov. 7. Hon Sec. Balance Sheet Central Volunteer Fire

Audited and found correct. Woilington, 6th November, 1871.

Bkigade. 1871. BECEIPTS. £ 8. d. To Balance 12 4 4 „ Public subscriptions ... ... 93 14 3 „ Insurance Grant 75 0 0 „ Money belonging to Sick Fund placed to this account in error 3 8 3 , r General Government grant ... 10 0 0 „ Churcli Insurance Fund ... 10 0 „ Donation— T. K. Warburfcon, Esq 7 10 0 „ Amount of loan from Sick Fund 30 0 0 £232 16 10 DISBURSEMENTS. £ 8. d. By Working engines at fires ... 24 9 0 „ Engine cleaning ... ... 12 12 0 „ Night watchman 4 10 0 „ Rent meeting room 7 0 0 „ Material 24 1 9 „ Refreshments at fires.., ... 29 18 2 „ Horso hire to fires 48 14 0 „ Stationery 5 19 1 „ Printing 1 14 6 „ Uniforms, &o 11 18 6 „ Repairing liobo, engines, &c ... 21 4 6 „ Loan repaid Sick and Accident Fund 30 0 0 „ Interest on loan 3 0 0 „ Error repaid Sick Fund ... 3 8 3 „ Commission on collecting sub* scriptions ... ... ... 3 60 „ Balance Q 15 1 £232 16 10 LIABILITIES. To Material, &o 25 16 9 £25 16 9 ASSETS. By Balance 0 15 1 „ Deficiency 25 1 8 £25 16 9