The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-04 00:00:00

THE STOTTRBRIDGE OBSERVER

oral alo istrict 4035.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FIRE BRIGAD

The sixth annual meeting of the members and
subscribers of the Stourbridge Fire Brigade was
held in the Commissioners Room on Tuesday. W.
J. Turney, Esq. J.P. was in the chair.
A letter was read from Mr. J. T. Ford regretting
he could not attend. _ _

The minutes of the last mef ting were read and
confirmed. _

Mr. H. Turney, hon. sec. read the report of the
committee fer the year 1884, as follows:
In presenting the Sixth Annual Report your Com-
mittee have mticlrpleasure in stating that, by juaii-
cieus expenditure on various improvements of the
funds placed at their disposal by subscribers, they
been able to make the Brigade much more efficient.
All particulars of fires attended by the Brigade
during the year will be found in the Chief Officer's
Report to the Commissioners, which is appended.
The receipts under the heads of donations and sub-
sriptions, amounting to £6O 5s 6d, exceed those of
the preview, year by £3 6s, Four neer life mem-
bers have joined, as compared with two during
1883, while on the other hand the annual subscrip-
tions have fallen off to the extent of .21 17s 64,
and there have been no small donations under
as in previous pars. It wi 1 thus be seen that the ,
increase is entirely due to:life members. The whole
' of the revenue for the year has been derived from
ordinary sources, viz , donations, annual subscrip-
tion, and charges made for attendance at fires.
With regard to the latter, although the Brigade
has attended more fires during 1884 than in any
previous year. only £47 5s has been recovered for
extinguishing expenses, as again £B6 2s 3d, for
1883. This difference is party caused by your Com-
mittee having discontinued the charge of 5s for the
attendance of each fireman. In other respects
also the extinguishing of fires has been carried out
in a more economical manner. which has been a di-
rect saving to the Fire Insurance OfLes. After
deducting £23 15s 11d, for wear and tear of appli-
ances and equipment, the Fires' Account shows a
loss of 12s 6d, The income and expenditure ac-
count shows a balance of £34 3e. The purchase of
a new Manual Engine however, at a cost of £69
2s 6d, his more than absorbed this balance, but it
was not considered advisable to charge the new
engine to the expenditure of 1884, as the purchase
was only made at the close of the year. This will
be treated in the same manner as the Steam Firs
Engine and other appliances, an annual sum being
reckoned for depreciation. The purchase of a
light modern Manual Engine was rendered neces-
sary on account of the oleengine, belonging to the
Alliance Fire Assurance Company, being too heavy
to run to country fires. The new eegine weighs a
little over 15 cwt, while the old engine referred to
weighs 32 cwt. This addition will be distinct
saving in horse hire, besides rendering the Brigade
mere efficient in its movements. Your Committee
have also purchased a new set of fire engine har-
ness, fitted wit.a all the latest appliances for saving
time in hitching up, and the: beg to call the aeten
tion of subscaibers to the ether important improve-
ments mentiened in the Chief Officer's Report,
These improvements have absorbed ;di the funds at
the disposal of your Committee, so that they have
not been able !o purchase the much needed new
uniforms referred to in the report for 1883. They
trust, however, that the continued support of On
friends of t e Brigade will enable the Curumiat _e
for 1885 to alo so. The Brigade has gradually in-
ere aged in-efficiency during the six years it has been
in existence. It i, however, supported winos! en-
tirely by voluntary contributions, and its present
effici• ivy can only be maintained by a continuance
of that liberal suppea t which hes hitherto been ac-
corded it by the public. A library and reading
room have been opened in connection with the
F:re Statien in Market Street, and the librarian
(Mr. H J, will issue a separate report in due
course. Your Committee are very much indebted
to Mr Goo. Set iven for his services as Auditor, and
they beg to offer their sincere thanks to the numer-
ous subscribers to the funds.

lii the curse of a few remarks, he said the Bri-
gade had done :better during the ye ,r h in pre-
vious years. That was to cay, they had done more
with the money which r.ad been placed at their dis-
posal. He did not wish it to be thought that they
waistel to make any profit. It may be said that
they were in as good a form as any fire brigade
could bo. So far as he could see there was nottiing
to do but to keep up the present state or the Brigade,
which eAlld only be done by the continuance of the
libral support which had hih rto been accorded
them. He hoped to get together enough money to
boy the much-Deeded new uniforms.
Mr. W. J. Turtle) said he had much pleasure in
movirg 1119 adoption of the.repott. Ile had no
Ii sita:i n in sawing that the report was a credit to
tl.em, an. wuuhl be a credit to any town in Eng-
land. Captain Tzer, of Manchester, had seen a
ecpy of the report and had expressed thA it was a
credit to them, aid would be a credit to any town
or city in Fugland. It was no liAlit task to keep
the B.i4tide in its present form. He regrettt d that
more subscribers did no attend the annual meet—
ings, but he supposed that people were so well
satisfied with Ihe management of the brigade that.
they thought it unnecessary to come to the meet-
in,v. It would be more encouraging, however, to
the captain and members of the brigade if they did
attend.

Mr. R. Broomhall seconded, and the report was
unanimously adopted.
Mr. H. Smith moved that Mr. Geo. Scriven be
re-appointed auditor.
Mr. T F. Bland sec( riled the Lmovement, which
was carried.
The tollowing officers were, on the proposition of
Mr. 11. Cochrane, and seconded by Fireman Pear-
son, re appointed :—Captain, Mr. H. Turney ;
Lieutenant. Mr. J. T. Ford; Superintendent. Mr.
H. D. Williams; Hon. Surgeon, Mr. H. H. Smith.
M.r. Cochrane said he thought had it not been for
the work of their captain it would not now have
been in its present state of efficiency. Mr. Ford
had always proved himself a worthy sub,titute in
the captain's absence; and had pleased the public
and firemen. He was pleased to say that the
surgeon had had no serious cases during the year
1884. Mr. Coehranq spoke in very high terms of
Superintendent Williams, and said they were
thankful for the arduous duties which he bad to
perform. He concluded by proposing a vote ot
thanks to the retiring officers.
This was seconded by fireman Pearson and
carried.
Mr. Broomhall proposed that Mr. W. Perry be
re-elected hon. treasurer for the year.
Mr. Cochrane seconded, and the proposition was
carried,
Mr. Platt proposed that Mr. Frank Evers and
T. F. Bland be elected two honoary members to act
on the committee.

Mr. H. Turn( y secort3ed the proposal, which was

carried.
N,lr. Smith propoFed a vote of thanks to the
Chairman. _ •

Mr. Cochrane seconded this, and it was heartily
resp.,nded to.
Mr, El Turney said the secretary would be pleased
t receive any books and papers that friends might
prest.nt them with.
Mi. 13 ownhall offered some books which he said
nu dout W u'd be interesting.
Air. Platt it :id he should be pleased to give 5s to
huy it hook.

The Cllz-tinny' thanked 1.% Smith for the
:m1 mann r it) which he had proposed the vote
01'4 hanks.
This e:..neluded the business.