The Volunteer Fire Brigade has been @ source of pride and appreciation to the Setuement for close upon half a century: we wish to preserve it, and we hope that its work will continue on the creditable lines of the past. it has been known to a section of the public that occasionally there have been some unfortunate misunderstandings between the Chief Otticer and the men under his command: and in them, we found cause for some anxiety for a little while. 1 think they were mainly due to a feeling of unrest and uncertainty, perhaps arising from some expressions of opinion as to the possibility of " professional Brigade, which the rapid growth of the Settlement, I daresay, eventually foreshadows. As for doubts of this sort respecting the Council's intentions upon such future developments, all that I can say to you is, that if it ever should prove if necessary to bring about any notable alterations in the Brigade's composition, of one thing I am sure, namely that the time is not yet. The Council has definitely recorded its wish to see the volunteer element perpetuated, provided that it is able to cope efficiently with the growing demands of fire prevention in the Settlement. It should constantly be borne in mind, that the members of the Brigade give voluntary service, and give it with a zeal energy which forms the highest claim to consideration. In the meantime the Watch Committee follows the working of this important department with attentive interest. T shall have more to say on the subject of the Brigade under the next Resolution, in introducing the Budget for this year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.