WATER DISPLAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18231, 15 November 1924, Page 16

WATER DISPLAY.

FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION.

A water display given by the Christchnrch Fire Brigade on the river bank near Victoria eoniare last night was witnessed by a most overwhelming crowd of people. Two of the engines and the new petrol-electric Tilling-Stevens ladder, recently acquired by the Firo Board at a. cost of»nearly £3OOO, left the Lichfield street station about 8 o'clock and, preceded by the Municipal Band, playing music moved through the city in procession. Flares were fired and coloured lights burned during' the progress of the procession. The two engines took station on the Cambridge terrace eido of the river just westward of the Colombo street fridge, and the turbines supplied several leads of hose to whore the display was given from tho bank of the river midway betweon the Colombo street and the Victoria street bridges. Tho cold cascade illuminated by a spot light from a motor car and then by coloured lights presented a very pretty effect. The main, item, however, was the demonstration given with the new ladder. That piece of equipment was raised from itshorizontal position and elevated by a series of extensions until its. full height of 85ft was reached. As it lifted it took the hoso with it and tho nozzle gear was attached to the extremity of the topmost ladder section. The ladder, fully extended, was swung round until the top overhung the river. A fireman ascended nimbly tho many steps and was Boon at tho summit. Another fireman took station not so far up. The water was turned on from the main and a strong ]et of water, strikingly illuminated by ft spot light, directed down to the river. By means of tho swivel gear icovided, as iwith a field gun, tho nozzle was waggled [horizontally and vertically and correspondi ing corrugations wfiTo imparted to the stream. The effect was most picturesqtie. T.he -demonstration generally -was followed with, teen interest, and the value- of the new apparatus for subduing fires in tall buildings was fully appreciated. While the display was on tho Municipal Band played in the rotunda.