FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 4315, 26 December 1876, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION.

The torchlight procession in connection with tho above took place on Saturday night, and on the whole proved a successful affair. Towards evening the weather cleared up, and by the appointed time for starting the rain had ceased altogether. The Ballaratt and Hokitika representatives took part in the proceedings with the local brigade. The engines were decorated in a befitting manner. The route taken was as sketched out, viz. : From the Station to Fagan's Hotel, aud back by way of Manse street, down High street, into Princes street, and thence by George street and St. David street, to Great King street, and through Hanover street on the route back. The procession was under the direction of the officers of the Dunedin Brigade; but it would have tended to the preservation oh better order had the officer iu command walked at the head of the ranks and kept his men more under control. At the various stoppage places a quantity of fireworks were let off, but the display of colored lights was insufficient. It is estimated that IfyOOO persons witnessed the proceedings. Shortly after nine this morning the firemen mustered at their engine-house, where they were joined by the representatives of many* of the iFriendly Societies, and, forming into procession, they proceeded to the Caledonian Grounds, where the day's proceedings were held. The procession took this otter;—

Marshal Courier The Artillery Band The Brigades, frith gear . ... Orangemen (three' lodges, numbering about eighty metal em) The Gardeners M. t7. I. O. O. P. Cooperative Tailors. The Orange Lodges formed the principal part of the procession, though the Gardeners (who wore a blue sash and apron, according to their Order) made a creditable first appearance in public. The competitions were announced to commence at eleven o'clock, but fully an hour's delay was occasioned by the non-appearance of many of the gentlemen who had undertaken to act as judges. For those at a distance, who may have been prevented by some sudden pressing engagement from fulfilling their promise there is some excuse; but there is none for those who live here, and who up to the last moment did not give the committee any intimation that they would not be able to'be present. The difficulty was got over by an | agreement being come to to associate Captain Storey, of the Lawrence Brigade, and Captain Bastings, of the Milton Brigade, with Messrs Dyer (Mayor of Milton) and James Marshall, the only appointed judges on the ground. The judges were, in turn, assisted by the following gentlemen: —Referee, Mr Job Wain; examiners of apparatus, exLieutenant Hobbs and ex-Firemen. Stewart and Lewis; superintendents and starters, Messrs Gourley, Kiroaldy, Dowse, and M'Gregor; timekeepers, Messrs Young, Bailey, Hislop, and Kohn. As has been already mentioned, the competing teams were five in number, besides which there were on the ground Captain Bastings and the Secretary of the Milton Brigade, Captain Storey, Lieutenant Holmes, and Fireman M'Gregor, of the Lawrence Brigade; and Captain Dale and five men of the Port Chalmers Brigade, the latter being the only ones not in uniform. The whole of the gear used in the various competitions, with the exception of the canvas hose used by the Ballarat team which they brought over with them, was supplied by Dunedin. There was on the ground, but not used in the competition, a new hose reel turned out by Chaplin and Co., from a design by Secretary Robertson, which for lightness and excellence of construction will challenge comparison anywhere. When the competition for the first and principal event commenced, there must have been fully 2,500 persom present, and the numerous trains and caba that ran during the afternoon poured a continuous stream of peop'e onto the ground, it being computed that the final and deciding heat was witnessed by close upon 5,000 persons. Of course the competitions and. sports eagerly watched ; but there were many ways of filling up the short intervals between the events. Aunt Sally, merry-go-rounds, and the rifle gallery were each and severally well patronised. k Whether in respect to the arrangements for the competition, the competition itself, attendance or weather, the first Fire Brigade demonstration in New Zealand must be regarded as an unqualified success; and it is to be hoped that not only will they become annual, but that the next one, where ever it is held (and both points will be decided at a conference to be held before the visiting teams leave), will be equally successful. There is just one cause for regret, and it is that the unfortunate squabble which followed upon the return of the two New Zealand teams from Ballarat should have prevented Wellington from sending a team to Dunedin, and had its effect upon Christchurch not being represented. The following is a detailed account of the various events :

| The first event was taken at twelve o'clock. It was the hose competition, the Srincipal event of the day, and the Ballarat irigade were the favorites. Dunedin also had its backers—the competitors themselves being confident of success. The ground was very heavy, the Timaru team, who had a heavy apparatus, laboring considerably. Ballarat brought their own gear with them, and it proved the lightest concern on the ground. Timaru was pitted against Dunedin, the latter winning easily. Auckland beat Hokitika in both waters, and although the judges gave the time for the run up also in Auckland's favor, it was the opinion of the majority of those on the ground that the result was a dead heat. Ballarat had a bye, thereby gaining three points. One point was allowed for the quickest run up, one for first water, and one for second water, as against three at the Ballarat competition. For the Hokitika and Timaru .teams it is only fair to say that neither is used to the hydrants, and consequently they were seen to a great disadvantage in this competition. The following is the time taken by each team in competing at Hose Practice, open te all Fire Brigades.—First prize: Cup or piece of plate (presented by the united Insurance Companies), to cost 40 guineas cash, and eight silver medals, value L2 2s each. Second prize: Trophy, value L 7 10s (presented by J. Sinclair). Third prize • Two branches (presented by A. and T. Burt. Eight men (not to exceed), to run with carriage 200 yards, fix hydrant, run out 80ft of hose/nx branch, aud throw water over a rope stretched I at the height of 10ft—the carriage to come back to a line drawn 15ft feet from hydrant; run out asi cond line of hose (60ft), fix branch, throw water as before; branches to extend 70ft from hydrant; each carriage to carry 200£t of hose ; hydrant and branches on carriage; f-inch nozzle <; the hose to be strictly copper-ri vetted leather hose—both lines run in the same direction and not to be crossed. The competing teams to run in pairs to be drawn for, and to be decided by points, viz.:—One point, first cari riage past plug; one point, first water; one point, first twojstreams. Sim Ist 2nd Pt. up. Water. Water. Tl. Timaru ... 0 33sec. 28sec. 20see. lmin. 21sec. Hokitika... 0 33sec. 40sec. 21seo. lmin.34sec. Ballarat(bye)3 25sec. 18isec. 19Jsec lmin. 2*sec. Dnn din ... 8 26sec. 19isec. 20aec. lmin. sJsec. Auckland... S 32sec. 87sec. 21 sec. lmin. SOseo. The result of the draw for second heat was that Dunedin was pitted against Ballarat, Auckland having a bye. When Dunedin and Ballarat were running off, and shortly after the start, one of the Ballarat team lost his footing and was dragged a considerable distance by the rope, the visitors thereby losing all chance of first or second honors. Dunedin's victory was the cause of great rejoicing, though much commisseration was felt for Ballarat owing to their mishap. Had the race been contested to the close, a capital finish might have been anticipated. The time for the heat shows Ballarat gained three seconds in the two waters, the respective times being:— Bun Ist 2nd Pfcs. up. water, water. Tl. Dunedin 3 24secs. 19£secs. 20seca. lmin. 3tsecs. Ballarat 0 36isecs. 17fsecs. 18Jsecs. lmin, 12isecs. Auckland then ran a bye, making the following time : Bun Ist 2rd i'ts. up. water, water. Tl. Auckland 8 32secs. 2-Hsecs. 25sec8. lmin. 22$secB. Dunedin and Auckland then ran off the final heat, Dunedin, who were the favorites for it, winning easily. Sinclair, who led the running of the home team, distinguished himself by his very fast running. The heat resulted thus:— Bun Ist 2ud Pts. up. Water. Water. Tl, Dunedin 8 25sec. 22fcsec. 18sec. 65lsee Auckland 0 33sec. 25 sec. 92sec. The result of the competition is— Dunedin (cup) J Auckland |„ 2 Ballarat ... ".' . ,'" 3 The competition lasted till 3 o'clock, a most unnecessary delay taking place between each he#£. Dunedin and Ballarat are to run off for a small trophy on Saturday, when the unfinished programme of sports wiilbe<Jompl©ted. ..

The Becond match, the Engine eompeti. £°fr dl <\ not conclude, till 4.30 p.m. The Jfeilatat team were heartily oheered on winning the match. One of the victors had to «!vt ar^f i off the fiel <*» **ving sprained his Ehßi sjb fcucxiCß.—First prize, value ISO; aecond priie, field glass (with inscription), value nve guineas. An unlimited number of firemen to tun engine 100 yards, no attempt to be made to put engine in working order until past the plug, then eight men to do the work of extending levers, attach two lengths of suction hose and strainer—one length from each side of engine; tun out 80ft of leather delivery hose, fix branch, and throw water over a rope 10ft high; delivery hose to be made up in ceils aud with branch, carried in body of engine; Jin nozzle ; water to be drawn from convas tank of engine; a hydrant and hose will be fixed; the competitors will turn on water—all joints to be disconnected.

Ba'lirat (lmin. Osecs.) 1 Dunedin (lmin. 3secs.) 2 Timaru (lmin. 8secs.) 3 Auckland (lain. lSsect.) 0 Hokitika (lmin. 22}secs.) 0