The ollicers of the several companies of the Shanghai Fire Department met in the Municipal Council Board Room on Fri evening. Mr. C.J, Ashley, Chief Ensineer, was called to the el There was a full The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to arrange some plan for having a Fire Brigade Parade on some evening when the Princes would be here. He would be very glad to hear the opinions of the officers, Fepresenting the various companies.
One Po condition of this Parade that he had doubt they would all agree in supporting, would be that there must be no fireworks whatever, only a few blue lights perhaps. The parade would be of the strict nature of a torchlight procession and made a great and an_ imposing feature of the ment of the Princes on shore here, if all the companies tumed out well, as he had no doubt they would do, on the vecasion. [t would be for] each company, he suggested, to form al small committee who could assist. him in arranging all the details of the affair when the time came, fixing the line of march and so on. In reply to one of the officers—the foreman of No. 4 engine, who asked what sum would he voted to meet the expenses of the Parade—the Chairman stated that the Fire Department would be supplied with money to carry out all the necessary arrangements. He explaineil that, finding there was a strong feeling in favour of such a demonstration being made, and believing in the propriety of it himself, he had seen one or two members of the Committee that was appointed at the meeting the other day; and that Com-joe was quite gratified with the idea that the Fire Brigade were taking the matter up and would be glad to have their cooperation. They had the precedent to go upon of the visits of the Grand Duke Alexis, the Duke of Edinburgh, and General Grant. They had almost everything in store that they required, transparendes, ete. No. 4 Engine would be the most dificult to fully fit out, a fact that the foreman might have had in his mind in raising the question he had brought forward.
Various officers stated their confidence that all their respective Companies would gladly joi The Chairman said all that was required was a meeting of each Company at which a small Committee should be empowered to bring to him their approval of the general plan, and then they could go into details. Whatever they did, then, would be final and nding on all. It had been suggested that they should invite as many volunteers to join them in the procession as cared to come. There were plenty helmets and red shirts in the store, All that he wanted to know was what each one had and how many they were to look for, taking part in the Parade.
One member present suggested that they might utilise the guns; Capt. Dallas was unite willing to let them have them, if they desired to take them out in the procession.
This proposal did not seem to find much favour, two or three speakers holding that if the Parade was to be a Fire Brigade Parade, it should be a Fire Brigade Parade only.
Some conversation ensued as to the necessity of having another meeting. was unanimously agreed that all the officers of the companies should give the chief engineer their hearty support and assistance whenever called on, and that he be left to arrange the whole programme of the affair. It was considered that another formal meeting of the oticers would not be necessary.
Mr. Wainewright proposed, and it was agreed, that this Parade should be taken as, and be distinctly announced beforehand as' being, the Annual Parade, and not merely a special Parade in honour of the Princes. There might be some young members who would not care to currie out and Parade for the sake of the Princes, but who would not fail to be at their posts if it were explained that this was the Avnual Parade. believed he knew one of that kind.
Te was also agreed that when the arrangements for the Parade were advertised for the information of the Public—which could not be until the Princes had arrived here ~the occupiers and owners of houses along the route of the Procession be resetfully requested by the Briyades to illuminate their premises.
With the remark from the Chairman that they would also secure as many Bands of Music as they could get hold of, the proceedings, which were most harmonious throughout, were brought to a close. ssu
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.