OUR photo this week shows a busy scene in front of the Bathurst Fire Station in William Street around 1902. There are two horse-drawn vehicles, one drawn by a pair of horses and the other by one horse.
The fire captain at the time was Captain Butcher, who said the Bathurst Brigade was the best equipped country brigade in NSW in the way of firefighting appliances and amusements for the men.
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He considered the Bathurst station was very comfortable, which would enable his men to assemble together more frequently.
The members of the Bathurst Fire Station obtained a fine billiard table in early May 1902 to entertain the firemen. It was decided to hold a special ceremony to inaugurate the new recreation item.
The table was a full-sized secondhand one, built by Hulbert of Sydney, and was in first-class condition. It was purchased with all the necessary outfit, by the men, at a cost of £65.
The room was nicely fitted up, well-lit, and it was expected to be a very comfortable resort for the firefighters during the winter evenings.
The ceremony of opening was performed by the mayor, Mr W.J. McPhillamy, chairman of the board, on Monday afternoon. Mr C.J. Pruen was the only other member of the board present, Mr R. Beer having sent an apology for his absence. John Meagher, MLC, Mr C. Armstrong, JP, and several firemen were also in attendance.
After the ceremony, the company adjourned to an adjoining room where his Worship, the mayor, proposed "success to the Bathurst Fire Brigade".
He looked forward to the time, which he hoped was not far distant, when they would be able to challenge those from the School of Arts at billiards. John Meagher referred to the good work done by the brigade since its inauguration.
As an instance, he cited the time the fire broke out in Mr Edye's establishment, next to his own buildings, when he believed nothing would have saved them if the fire brigade had not been in existence.
The firemen were a credit to the town, being sober and always assiduous, and when a fire broke out it took them very little time to assemble, he said.
He said he was very pleased to be present and said if there was anything to be contributed towards the billiard table, he would be very pleased to give something.
Mr Pruen reminded those present that the table had been procured entirely at the men's own cost, and that the board was in no way responsible. He stated that the amount contributed by the ratepayers towards the maintenance of the brigade only totalled about £50 a year or a measly £1 per week.
Five years previously, in 1897, when a cottage was destroyed, the National Advocate reported on May 5:
"It never rains but it pours. This statement seems to hold good in the matter of fires, for it is a well-known fact that after immunity from fires in any large-sized town, the outbreak of one fire is looked upon as the forerunner of others.
"The local brigade had not been called for years, and about 7.15 yesterday morning the fire bell once more clanged. It proved to be at the premises, a four-roomed weather board cottage in Manilla Street, owned and occupied by Mr. M. Gillon who was a carriage examiner on the railway."
Captain Butcher's report stated: - May 4, 1897 - I received a call to a fire through the Telephone Exchange, it was a weather board cottage off Russell Street. On arrival the house was completely gutted.
The owner of the house, Mr. Gillon, had not insured either the furniture or the building and it constituted the whole of his savings for the past ten years. His wife was awakened to find the place in flames.
She herself and the children had to get out as they stood, saving nothing. The Captain and six members were present.