1906 - Conference

Papers Past, Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 21, 29 January 1906, Page 2

UNITED FIRE BRIGADES' CONFERENCE. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

The 27th annual conference of the United Fire Brigades' Association met at the Municipal Chambers this morning.

Present :— Captain Toomey (Lyttelton), Captain Bellringer (New Plymouth), Captain Battle (Wanganni) Vice-Presidents; Ex-Presidents: T. D. Cummins (Wanganui), E. Smith (Christchuroh), B. 0. Robbins (Hawera), D. Leach (Westport); A. Martin (Gore) J, Smith (Rangiora), W. Baker (Gore), J. Walton (Greymouth), J. Washer (Roslyn), A. Tingey (Palmerston N.).

Delegates.

Auckland City. — Foreman Carr.

Ashburton. — Engineer Dolman.

Arch Hill. — Foreman Smith.

Auckland Railway.— Captain Round.

Alexandra. — Foreman Anderson.

Blenheim. Foreman Jellyman.

Bluff.— Captain Millar (proxy).

Caversham.— Fireman Pearce.

Christchurch City.— Superintendent E. Smith.

Christchurch Railway.— Engineer Winter.

Carleton.— Fireman E. McKenzie.

Cambridge. — Secretary E. Rugo.

Dunedin City. — Foreman Foster.

Dunedin South.— Foreman Price.

Dunedin Railway.— Ex-President Mitchell.

Devonport. — Captain Strude.

Eden Terrace. — Foreman Brook.

Eastown. — Captain Holland.

Eltham.— Captain Nuttall.

Feilding. — Captain Saywell.

Fitzroy. — Secretary A. W. Eller.

Grey Lynn. — Secretary Collins.

Greymouth. — Foreman Smith.

Gisborne. — Secretary Nield.

Gore. — Fireman J. Logie.

Geraldine. — Foreman Bennington.

Hokitika. — Secretary Andrews.

Hastings. — Captain Braush.

Hawera. — Secretary Robbins.

Hamilton — Secretary Thomson.

Hillside Railway. — Captain Wilkins.

Hawera Fire Police. — Captain Hughes

Invercargill. — Captain Millar.

Inglewood. — Lieutenant. Rolston.

Kumara.— Captain Benyon.

Kaiapoi. — Branchman Heney.

Lyttelton — Fireman Carson.

Lawrence. — Fireman O'Connell.

Levin. — Captain Anstice.

Masterton.— Captain Jenkins.

Marton. — Fireman Richardson.

Milton. — Captain King.

Masterton Fire Police.— Secretary Lewis.

Napier. — Fireman Dickson.

Naseby.— Secretary Kirby.

Nelson. — Captain Wimsett.

New Plymouth. — Fireman Roberts.

Newmarket — Foreman Smith

Napier Fire Police.— Captain Eagle ton.

Napier Railway. — Fireman Hawke.

Oamaru.— Ex-President Martin (proxy)

Opunake. — Captain Stewart.

Port Chalmers. — Fireman Foster (proxy).

Parnell.— Secretary Collins.

Patea. — Fireman Neilson.

Palmerston N.— Captain Tingey.

Petone. — Foreman Leppe.

Petone Railway. — Fireman McEwan.

Paeroa.— Secretary Brenan.

Palmerston S. — Foreman Clark.

Queenstcwn. — Secretary Haines

Rangiora. — Secretary Blake:

Richmond.— Captain Wilkes.

Roslyn. — Lieutenent Bewridge.

Ross.— Fireman Roberts,

Reefton. — Fireman Dansey.

Spit. — Branchman Smith.

Southbrook, — Foreman Wilson (proxy)

Stratford. — Branchman Partridge.

Sumner. — Capain Phillips.

St. Kilda. — Captain McKenzie.

Temuka. — Lieutenant Gunnion.

Timaru. — Lieutenant Jones.

Timaru Railway. — Captain. Burke.

Thames. — Secretary Hammond.

Taihape. — Captain Wilson.

Wanganu},— Leutcnant Sims

Waipawa. — Branchman Wills.

Woodville. — Foreman Grinlington.

Westport. — Captain Hansen

Waihi. — Fireman Sorenson.

Waitekauri. — Secretary Corbett.

Captain Toomey, of Lyttelton, presided, and briefly welcomed the delegates. The minutes of the 26th annual conference held at Dunedin last year, were read by Secretary Gilberd, and carried.

The balance sheet and report of the Executive for the year were read and adopted.

The report of the Executive showed that the receipts of the year totalled £1351 8s, and included a balance of £409 14s 9d, at last audit; Government subsidy, £300; Brigade subscriptions £229 6s; goods, £231 7s 6d; and sale of competition plant, £140 12s 6d; the balance being made up of small items, which are of course shown in the balance sheet. The expenditure amounted to £1195 0s 9d, and included travelling expenses, £431 8s; competition plant, £229 2s; goods purchased, £180; and the grant to the Dunedin Demonstration Committee, £150, towards the prize fund of the competitions. The balance sheet shows a cash balance of £156 7s 3d. The total liabilities amount to £164 10s, and the assets to £323 2s 3d, showing a balance in favour of the Association of £158 12g 3d, (the balance covers a period of eleven months only.) With regard to the item 'Brigades' subscriptions, etc, due, £112 nearly half of- this amount is due for competition plant. During the year the Roxburgh, Lower Hutt, Palmerston South, Hawera and Opunake Brigades have become affiliated to the Association, the roll now showing a membership of 97 Brigades.

The report continues :— At the Dunedin conference it was confidently anticipated that legislation improving the status of Brigades would be placed upon the statute book. A measure, which met with the unanimous approval of delegates, was submitted to that conference, but unfortunately it met the fate of previous bills of the same description, being shelved towards the close of the session. Your Executive, although disappointed, are not disheartened, and a more determined effort will be made this year to have the Fire Brigades Bill passed by Parliament. Probably the greatest difficulty the Executive have had to contend with in furthering the interests of the Bill has been the marked and regrettable apathy of brigades. In a number of towns in the colony Brigades have taken no steps to invoke the assistance of members of Parliament and local Borough Councils, consequently when the, measure was before the House legislators proved by their remarks that they were not in touch with its objects, thus weakening the support accorded the Bill. We would urge each Brigade during the year to do its utmost to assist the Bill, and if a united effort be made in this direction there is little doubt that the measure will become law next session. During the year Gold Stars for 25 years service were presented to G Moore (Auckland), and J. Carrington (Dunedin), and the following Stars will be presented at this Conference W - Lucas ( Spit). T. G Blackwell (Kaiapoi) W. Carr (Blenheim) J. Washer (Roslyn), T. H. Battle (Wanganui). Other claims have been sent in, and will be referred to at this meeting. The Accident Society is still progressing satisfactorily. Although the claims paid during the year amounted to £101 10s a net profit of about £90 was made the total funds now reaching £970 6s 2d.

Papers Past, Wanganui Herald , Volume XXXX, Issue 11958, 30 August 1906 , Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At Auckland last week a jury awarded Mrs Rogers and her three children £925 from the Devonport Borough Council in respect of her husband, who was killed in a vehicle accident caused by the horses being frightened by the Fire Brigade, who were testing the water supply.

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 10, 24 November 1906, Page 9

GRAND NATIVE AND ORIENTAL FAIR To be held on the DEVONPORT DOMAIN, December 5, 6, 7 and 8, PROGRAMMES OF VARIED ATTRACTIONS

This looks like quite an event with all sorts of athletic prowess being displayed, as well as baby shows, spoon and egg races, and a Great Maori Display! On Thursday Evening part of the entertainment was the Fire Brigade Alarm and Rush with Prizes 1st £1 1s and Second 10s 6d. Entry fee 1s, also the Firemans Race. 100yds Prizes and entry fee as above.

Papers Past, Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12037, 3 December 1906, Page 6

FIRES. (Per United Press Association). AUCKLAND, December 2

A five-roomed house, occupied by Robt. Black, of Devonport, and owned by C. McGuiness, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday night. At the time of the outbreak no one was in the house. The cause of the fire is unknown, and nothing was saved. An adjoining house, occupied by W. Simpson, had a very narrow escape. Mr. Black's house was insured in the Government Insurance Office for £150. It is not known whether there was any insurance on the furniture.