Superintendent Smith in reply said that the increase in the number of three and four storey buildings was making a high water pressure a. necessity, as the plant could not reach them, and the brigades-, best work was done by being early on the scene and catch ing the fires in their incipient stage. : Superintendent Hemsworth endorsed the re marks of the previous speaker, and said; that the fire in St. Asaph. street must have con vinced Council and citizens of the need for the high pressure supply. , : Mr T. H. DaTey, Mayor of St. Albans, proposed the toast of "The Underwriters' • Association,'..and suggested.-that* the Asso ciation might do. more than it did for the brigades. ■'■' . '■)■

Mr A; L. Parsons, in reply, pointed \ cat that the constitution of the Association pre-/ vented.' dtr from giving assistance- to tie Brigade, but individual members gave it th-eir srapport. He admitted that the Bri-' gafle i:n saving property, also saved the Insurance Companies some expense, and the companies recognised that by a propor tionate reduction in premiums. He paid a high compliment to the efficiency of the Brigade. -

Mr Geo. Capper proposed the toast of "The Ex-firemen."

Ex-Superintendent Harris,. Messrs W. Hobbs, and C. Samuels responded. Other toasts acknowledged were " l £h& Visitors," "The Ladies," "The Press," and the cha-irmait.
In the evening songs, accompanied by Mr C. A. Ookes, were sung by Messrs McLaren, Oakes, Tattersall, Shepherd, and .Henderson. Mr H. L. Oake3 gave a comet solo, and Mr D-. Ryan a recitation.
GAZETTE NOTICES.
