The French Volunteer Fire Brigade's delightful ceremony 0?! "taking a glass of wine" at Central Fire Station, Rue clu Consular, was held on August 19 in honour of the new professional Chief Officer, Captain Cornet, who.arrived Shanghai recently from Pat usual, there was present number of Volunteer firemen, both Of the active and reserve lists, while Koechlin, Consul-General for France, graced the reception with his presence. Capt. J.G. Dyson, Chief Officer of the Shanghai Fire Brigade, and Capt. H.G. Reed were also. present, the absence from Shanghai of M. Marcel Chapeaux, " Commandant of the Brigade, M. A. L Chollot, Captain of No. 1 Company, proposed the health, of Capt. Cornet. First addressing the French, he mandant and made ne speech in English, as Captain Cornet: We have delayed the holding of this reception for some time, as we hoped to have with us Commandant Chapeaux, who would have expressed our wishes better than anyone else. Unfortunately, he could not be pret. went, and he has charged me to Present you his regrets for not being here to-day.
Thave the great pleasure, on behalf of Companies No. 1, No. 2 and Reserve of Volunteer firemen, to present you our best wishes for success in your new post in Shanghai. I have to. thank the Consul-General for being present today and for adding -his good wishes to ours.
It in not necessary for me to present all the gentlemen present to Capt, Cornet, who will be in command of the new Fire Brigade units. I will simply say that he is decorated with the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d'Honneur, and that he has been in the Paris! Fire Brigade for 16 years, of which 10 have been spent as "Chef de Sectour." His high degree of com-potence regarding fire matters is thus indisputable.
Before the disbanding of the volunteers, which will take place, I believe, on December 31, let_me assure you, Capt. Cornet, that we fare always' ready to assist you in any way to become acquainted with Shanghai methods of fire-fighting, and to this I must add M. Rovere, who, I feel sure, will also lend yeu all his able assistance.
Gentlemen, I ask you to raise your glasses to drink the health of Capt. Cornet, Madame and. Made-moselle Cornet and to wish Capt. Cornet many cod. fires Capt. Cornet replied: Monsieur Jo Consul-General: Let me first of all express my thanks to you for honouring with your presence this Tt shows the interest you take in the Fire Bi gade and the confidence that you have in them, and my sole desire to merit this con-too new to Shanghi to my whet T think and wHat I feel. Wher a.leng stay in Paris, one suddenly at a town like Shanghai in this season of the year, one is slightly overwhelmed. This is in my ease:
In. accepting the offer of the Municipality to take over the command of the Fire Brigade, I have conte' here to continue the work the greatest admiration. The which is yours and'fer which I have
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.