NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE FIREMEN’S CONVENTION.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE FIREMEN’S CONVENTION.

On September 25 the firemen of New Hampshire met for the eighth time in annual convention under the presideney of Chief F. W. Lane, of Manchester. The attendance in the Opera house was encouragingly large. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. H. E. Wilson, after which the address of welcome to the delegates was delivered by Mayor Whittemore. In his report George T. Osgood, secretary, stated that thirty-five claims (not one of them a death claim), with a total of $1,184, had been paid. Thirty-three of these claims had been paid to call men. There were, however, no minor children to support. Eighteen new companies and boards of engineers had joined during the past year, adding 243 to the membership, and making a total of nearly 1,920. According to the treasurer’s report the association had a balance on hand of $3,083. A paper was read by J. L. Brook, of Manchester, on “The organisation and formation of the association,” which was interesting, historically and otherwise. The legislature during the year had substantially benefited the association by conferring upon it authority to call upon the State treasurer for $2,000. in addition to the regular appropriation, if the association should ever become exhausted. But the governor of the State must first bo made acquainted with the facts of the case. An amendment to the constitution admitting to membership any permanently employed fireman not attached to a company was defeated. It was the opinion of the convention that the admission of persons without credentials would thus be made easy. Another amendment to the constitution, however, was adopted. It compels all future nominations for office to be made from the floor, instead of by a committee, as bad hitherto been the custom. The salaries of the secretary and treasurer were increased one hundred per cent. each. The officers elected to serve during the ensuing year were as follows: President, Chief George E. Varney, Dover; first vicepresident, Assistant Engineer C. E. Sears, Claremont; secretary, George T. Osgood, Concord; treasurer, John D. Randall, Portsmouth.

On September 25 the firemen of New Hampshire met for the eighth time in annual convention under the presideney of Chief F. W. Lane, of Manchester. The attendance in the Opera house was encouragingly large. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. H. E. Wilson, after which the address of welcome to the delegates was delivered by Mayor Whittemore. In his report George T. Osgood, secretary, stated that thirty-five claims (not one of them a death claim), with a total of $1,184, had been paid. Thirty-three of these claims had been paid to call men. There were, however, no minor children to support. Eighteen new companies and boards of engineers had joined during the past year, adding 243 to the membership, and making a total of nearly 1,920. According to the treasurer’s report the association had a balance on hand of $3,083. A paper was read by J. L. Brook, of Manchester, on “The organisation and formation of the association,” which was interesting, historically and otherwise. The legislature during the year had substantially benefited the association by conferring upon it authority to call upon the State treasurer for $2,000. in addition to the regular appropriation, if the association should ever become exhausted. But the governor of the State must first bo made acquainted with the facts of the case. An amendment to the constitution admitting to membership any permanently employed fireman not attached to a company was defeated. It was the opinion of the convention that the admission of persons without credentials would thus be made easy. Another amendment to the constitution, however, was adopted. It compels all future nominations for office to be made from the floor, instead of by a committee, as bad hitherto been the custom. The salaries of the secretary and treasurer were increased one hundred per cent. each. The officers elected to serve during the ensuing year were as follows: President, Chief George E. Varney, Dover; first vicepresident, Assistant Engineer C. E. Sears, Claremont; secretary, George T. Osgood, Concord; treasurer, John D. Randall, Portsmouth.