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July 18, 1895.1
HONGKONG FIRE BRIGADE.
PRESENTATION TO HON. H. E. WODEHOUSE,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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obtained from the reservoirs, that, amongst us, directions has shown of what he is capable in we, with all these expedients at our command, command of the Brigade. Some years ago, our have been successful in coping with fires in the services used to be assisted by the presence of On Saturday afternoon Hon. H. E. Wodehouse town, and I believe these despatch boxes will al- the Volunteer Fire Brigade. That now was presented with a very handsome silver cup ways prove of great assistance. I may also ceased to exist, and it is a matter of great regret on the occasion of his retirement from the su- mention another appliance that we fall back to me that amongst those who used to assist on perintendentship of the Fire Brigade. The pre- upon constantly at fires, and which has been pro- these occasions is one who would have been most sentation was made at the Magistracy, and the vided in the same way-I mean the hydrant sup- pleased to know what has taken place here to-day. whole brigade attended. Hon. Commander W. ply cart, which is specially made for "holding all | I refer to the late Mr. Ross, whom we all greatly C. H. Hastings, Acting Captain Superintendent the odds and ends which at any moment may be respected as a foreman in the Volunteer Brigade, of Police, presided, and in making the presenta wanted at a fire. It is always very satisfactory to He was ever kind and courteous in his dealings tion said Mr. Wodehouse, the recent transfer know when a fire takes place that these appli- with his own men and with the Government of the Fire Brigade to the Police department ances are ready, and that everything has been Brigade, and I am afraid he lost his life, in great has officially severed your connection with the got that foresight can imagine may be wanted to measure, through the unfortunate accident he Brigade. You were Superintendent from April, suppress the flames. All these things I have sustained in the performance of his duty. I 1883. to May. 1895, and the past and present mentioned are details, small in themselves and must again tell yon members of the Brigade how members of the Brigade desire to give some ex carried out in the ordinary administration of the extremely I appreciate this very handsome pression of their appreciation of the manner in department, but which are very far-reaching in souvenir you have presented to me. I shall which you discharged your duties during their effects, and I hope we may see the use of cherish it as long as I live. I know of no oc- those twelve years. The present state of the them by their results. I think for some time casion which has given me greater pleasure and Brigade testifies to the untiring energy, zeal, and past the way in which fires have been put out gratification than this which has called us to- discretion you have constantly exercised as its without spreading and without much destruc-gether to-day. (Applause). official head in introducing many valuable changes tion of property is an indication that our The cup bore the following inscription: for its improvement and greater efficiency: The efforts have been well applied. In the "Presented by the past and present members introduction of the despatch box, of the coarse-command of a Fire Brigade, it is, of course thread couplings, and other ingenious devices. | impossible to do much without the assist- have greatly lessened labour and enabled the ance of the men and the officers. I doubt if Brigade to cope more effectually with fires in- there is any pla e which offers more opportuni- mediately on their outbreak, and thus keep with ties to a Superintendent than Hongkong, which in reasonable limits what might otherwise have is policed with men of splendid physique, intelli- been large and calamitous conflagrations. By gent, zealous, and active. The qualities which these means you have rendered great and valuable are required to make a good fireman I consider services to the public. The members of the to be zeal, intelligence, activity, and sobriety. Brigade feel, however, that what has contributed It is difficult to speak of sobriety in this kind largely to the success that has attended their of weather when we gladly avail ourselves efforts has been the unvarying and constant of every opportunity of quenching the thirst courtesy and kindness you have ever shown them, which nature provides us with; but at the thus ensuring a sympathetic co-operation without same time sobriety is a most important re- whigh sach satisfactory results might not have quisite in making up the qualifications of been obtained. As a mark of their respect and esteem they bog your acceptance of this cup, and trust that it may long remind you, and make you feel, with pardonable pride, that you have done your duty in the Hougkong Government Fire Brigade. (Applause).
Capt. Hastings then handed the cup to Mr.
Wodehouse.
occurrences.
of the Hongkong Fire Brigade to H. E. Wodehouse, Esq. C.M.G.. late Superintendent of the Brigade, 1883-1895, as a mark of their esteem and regard.-Hongkong, 13th July 1895."
Mr. Wodehouse having had the cup filled with wine, every one preseut toasted him and wished him long life and happiness.
4
Mr. Wodehouse, on behalf of the Fire Brigade, presented Mr. hau Shan with a massive gold albert on the occasion of his retirement from the post of clerk to the Brigade.
Mr. Chau Shan briefly acknowledged the handsome gift.
THE NEW BRITISH DOLLAR.
good fireman. Our numbers are not very large, but I doubt whether the efficiency of the† Fire Brigade is impaired on that account. At the fires at which I have been present I have always found good men on whom I could rely to A consignment of the coins was brought to T'he latest thing in the dollar line has arrived. understand the orders intelligently and carry them out zealously, and possessing activity to do Hongkong by the last English mail, and they are now well on the market. At present they what was requisite to tackle the fires that take possess one good feature; they are brand new place in this colony. I should not be express and clean. Nothing else can be said in their iug all I feel if I did not take this occasion to say that the Superintendent and coarse, and yet the public have been ear- favour. The new coin is altogether unsightly without the co-operation of his principal of-nestly beseeched to welcome it with open arms. ficers is powerless to do much. Amongst these to favour it in preference to the Mexican or yen, officers I rank in the first place the officer for and to look upon it as a thing of beauty, and a the time being who holds the post of Assistant Engineer. That office is at present held by Mr. Joy for-well, as long as its valne has an up- Campbell. I have already informed that officer and looks best in a dark drawer. Take the figure. ward tendency. It is a very ngly piece of metal. officially and now repoat in public that I con of Britannia. It is huge and out of all propor- sider his post the pivot upon which the efficiency tion. The trident is so long it has been bodged of the Brigade turns, and the office has uover through the border, and the border, Grecian been held and never can be held in future by a in design, is quite ont of place, and strongly better man than Mr. Campbell. (Applause). I reminds one of the figuring at the top of a have always found in him untiring energy, great school-boy's slate. Absolutely no taste has been tact and intelligence, and a happy manner of displayed; and this must also be said of the communicating the wishes of the Superintendent to the men, which the Superintendent himself ters, and some more commonplace figuring. It reverse, which bears Chinese and Malay charao- has not the opportunity of doing. The foremen, is as well the date-1895-is so plainly seen; if also, are most valuable officers. Owing to theit were not one would think that the coin was a mixed character of the Fire Brigade, which is closely connected with the Police Force, pro motions to the upper ranks have to be made largely in consideration of the position which the officers occupy in the Police Force; but there are one or two meu in the Brigade who are well able to perform the duties of foremen, and one or two of them I consider as good firemen as any Brigade could possess, I do not wish to mention many names, but one or two occur to me spon. taueously, amongst whom are Sergt. Moffatt and
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more forcibly does the question arise-Where very old specimen. The more you look at it the was the die dug up?
Mr. WODEHOUSE, in reply, said-Superinten dent Hastings aud members of the Hongkong Fire Brigade, I cannot tell you how gratified I am at this kind and handsome recognition by you of the time we have spent together during the past twelve years in the Hongkong Fire Brigade. I think I am rightly interpreting your feelings in accepting this souvenir as an indication that we have worked harmoniously together, and that there has been an absence of any friction in the performance of our duties, and also that you regard the position of the Fire Brigade at the end of the twelve years as im proved in its management compared with what it was in years gone by. It would be affectation on my pirt to deny that such improvement has taken place. I think, generally speaking our combined efforts have been in the direction of improving the methods in use for the suppression of fires aud for improving the appliances before hand that are likely to be required at such With regard to the methods for the suppression of fires I may mention, for instance, sch matters as the unnecessary des truction of woodw.rk, the sparing, but adequate use of water, bearing in mind that water, if improperly used, becomes as much of a destructive element its tarn as fire itself; the careful inspection of the neighbouring premises to see that the fire is not spreading; the ar-
It is a great compliment to Mr. Brady that rangement of all the appliances at the time
at least three of the big audience at Kowloon in such a way that the premises are sur-Constables Macaulay and McEwen. At every fire Institute on Wednesday night had had no dia- ronnded and every precaution taken to see at which I have been I have always found them ner. Their dinner hour was 7,30, and the enter that the fire does not spread; and with working in au able and zealous way, and I think talament commenced at 8, but rather than maiss regard to the appliances provided before- the thanks of the Brigade are due to those I have a rare treat, these three enthusiasts decided to hand, such as are likely to be required, your mentioned and many others I might mention patronize Mr. Brady's substantial bill of fare, Superintendent has mentioned amongst other for the generally successful way in which fires and allow appetite to wait on good digestion. things the despatch boxes, which I am have been put out. I do not wish to detain you Eight o'clock is rather an early hour to com- bound to say I view as being of the longer, though there is much I might say, bat mence the proceedings, and pertaps Mr. Brady greatest importance as one of the expedients having eased my connection with the Brigade will, if it is possible, fix a later time on the likely to be of use in a place like Hongkong, I can only say how much I appreciate the kind next occasion, or ask everybody to dine at 630, which is very hilly in its nature and up whose way in which you have distinguished my depart. There was a very large attendance indeed, slopes it is very difficult to carry water from the mout; and it is a source of gratification to know and many people had to content themselves harbour. The despatch box is the most effective in handing over the command of the Brigade it with standing room, while several more stretched meaus we have at present for utilizing the is being given to an officer who will distinguish | out their heads from behind the doors at excellent water pressure from the reservoirs of himself in his new capacity in the same way as he the back of the room in order not to miss the Tylam and Pokfulam. That water has been has done in every capacity in which he has acted performance. Unfortunately Mr. Brady was distributed throughout the town by a most officially. (Applause). I refer not only to the Act suffering from a cold, but he does not believe in intelligent system of hydrants, placed purposely ing Superintendent, Captain Hastings, who is a disappointing an audience if he can manage tɔ for the most convenient use at fires. It man whom we know will always be ready to lead, not get out of bed. For two hours he delighted the is from the knowledge of the presence of to follow, but also to your permanent Superinten-audience, and he is to be highly commended for these hydrants and from the pressure we dent, Mr. May, who by his energies in other so gallantly sticking to his programme, consider-
MR. BRADY'S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE KOWLOON INSTITUTE.