The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-13
Presentation I'm the Fire Department.

Presentation I'm the Fire Department.
An interesting ceremony took place
last evening at No. 2 Engine room in
honor Of MIR. John Mott, ex-Chief Engi-
neer of the Honolulu Fire Department,
whose term Of office expired in July. /
The affair would have passed off in
manner most pleasant had it not been
fo- painful circumstance which marred /.
the proceedings, and which precluded |
the attendance of the gentleman who /
would otherwise have formed the !
central figure. AT the eleventh hour !
an intimation was received of |
sudden bereavement which the family |
had sustained in the death of his grand |
child, an infant few months old. Such
being the case, it was an open question
as to what course should be taken |
Whilst all were unanimous in
the sympathy they felt towards their late
commander, a few minutes discussion
took place as to how, when and where
the ceremony should proceed. 1t was at
length determined to appoint Messrs.
George Lucas, G. f. Williams and NJ
d. Monsarrat, to represent Mr.. Mott, and
as tangible token OF goodwill was to be
rendered him, they were deputed to con-
vey it to his hands.
Chief Engineer G.. B. Wilson presided,
and called upon Mr.. G. A. Messenger,
who had formerly occupied that position,
to make the presentation, which he did
in a speech both eloquent and pithy.
After tracing the career of the Fire De-
partment, adverting to the gallant char
acteristics of its members, and the brave
and useful work they had performed
| since their first inception as an organized
body, and referring to his own cOnnec-
ton with them, extending over nearly
| quarter of a century, he stated that
that hall was Mr.. Motifs birthplace as
fireman; his connection with the de-
partment was formed % years ago, and he
| had grown up with it, successfully hold
| ing the ranks of Assistant, Foreman,
! Second Assistant, First Assistant, and
lastly as head of the department, an Of
! flee which he had ably and efficiently
! filled during a period of four years. 1t
was proposed to present him with
small memento as a mark of esteem
from the members.
The gift consisted of a handsome gilt
frame containing Photographic repre-
sentation of the head fire station,
surrounded by striking portraits of the
recipient (Mr. MOTIF; Mr.. Monsarrat,
First Assistant; Mr.. Julius Ash, Second
Assistant; Mr. J. w. Mcclure, Fire
Marshal, and Mr.. Henry Smith, Secre-
tary. The intermediate spaces was occu-
pied by an elegant and appropriate de-
sign, and the whole reflected great
credit upon Mr.. Williams, from whose
art studio it had emanated.
Messrs. Lucas, Williams and Monsar-
rat acknowledged the presentation in
suitable terms, and the company, to the
number OF about thirty, sat down to a
table laden with many delicacies, for the
purpose of indulging in social inter
course, toasts, speeches and vocal music.
The health of "His Majesty the King, ]"
the only Royal fireman in the world, SO it
was said, headed the list land was repli ed to
by Colonel Boyd. This was followed by
''The Head of the Fire Department, I"
proposed by Mr.. B. Ordenstein, Dele
gate of the Pacific Hose Company,
to which Mr.. Wilson responded,
and the latter, before resuming his seat.
paid a similar compliment to "the three
ex-Chiefs," Messrs. Williams, Lucas
and Messenger. The last named pro-
posed "The Chinese Branch, Com pany
No. 81, to which Mr.. Wong Kim, Fore
man, replied in his native tongue.
''The Assistant Engineers" Messrs. j.
Ash and F. Hustace; "The Ladies, "
"The Press" and THE Old Bell, !"
which for many years gave te alarm of
fire, brought the programme > a close.
The necessary absence of Mr.. Mott was
a source of universal regret, and the
company for this reason parted in a
vein less happy than had been antici-
pated.