THE FIRE BRIGADES' DEMONSTRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 4317, 28 December 1876, Page 2

THE FIRE BRIGADES' DEMONSTRATION.

The proceedings in connection with the above were brought to a close last night, when the Dunedin Brigade entertained the visiting teams at a balX which was held in the University Hall. Through the committee not having been apprised of the bursting of the main, the hall was in darkness for nearly two hours beyond the time appointed for opening the ball—a delay that was very good-humoredly borne; but with the exception of this circumstance the ball was a success in every way. The company, which comprised the firemen and the invited guests of the Dunedin Brigade, numbered between 150 and 200. The orchestra was filled by Mr Anderson’s quadrille band, and the refreshment department, under Dunning Bros.’ management, was everything that <Tould be desired. The Water street arcade was converted into a pleasant promenade, which was much used by the dancers. Mr W. Sinclair acted as M.C. The prizes won at the competition on Boxing Day were on view in one of the side-rooms during the evening, and were much admired. During the interval between the dances the prizes were presented to the winners by The Mayor, who mentioned at the outset that the Timaru brigade had lodged a protest in respect of the engine practice, but as it came in on the day after the competition the judges present that evening held that it could not be sustained, in which view they were supported by the referee. In thus bringing to a close the Firemen’s first Demonstration in New Zealand he thought they might fairly congratulate themselves on the energetic manner in which the affair had been carried through. It had, he believed, been a thorough success from first to last, and though possibly the demonstration did not come up to the exhibition of skill Ballarat furnished in May last, still he thought it must be acknowledged that, all things considered, Dunedin by no means had any reason to be ashamed of the exhibition of the past few days. It spoke volumes for the youth of the Colonies to find that to take part in a competition of skill of this kind detachments of

fire brigades should travel snob long distances as some had done on this occasion. It must also, ho thought, c. acknowledged tear J'unndiu.cr.u'd take some little credit to itself for having been represented at the last Bal'arat demonstration. He trusted that these competitions would be continued, and be moved from place to place. When this demon tration waa first mooted some people thought that its establishment and the taking in hand of it by Donedin were premature; but the result had proved that they were able to do something at all events towards carrying out such an affair. It was unnecessary that he should enlarge npon the desirable results which accrued from the various brigades being brought into competition with each other, because it must be admitted that such competitions tended to impart that stimulus and that spirit of emulation among the different brigades which it was m every way desirable to encourage. He believed our brigade had received a little lesson from their Ballarat friends with regard to hose reels—a lesson that no doubt they would profit by. They had also got from the Ballarat men an exhibition of smartness which had elicited the wannest applause of those who witnessed it on the day of the demonstration.—(Cheers.) In presenting the principal prize to Dunedin the Mayor said he hoped the Cup would be an incentive to the Dunedin brigade to exert their best energies at all competitions. Inpresentingthe Ballarat men with their prize, his Worship assured them that the people of Unnedin deeply sympathised with them on account of the accident, which prevented them from securing the first honors, which otherwise must have fallen to them. Each time the Ballarat team stepped up to receive a prize or trophy they were greeted by the company with three ringing cheers. There were two special prizes—a medal which was given to Adams of the Ballarat team, who ran the ladder in the ladder and hose competition, and a cup to Ex-Lientenant Lawn, pf the Ballarat Brigade, as the oldest fireman, he having been a volunteer fireman for about seventeen years. A neat little speech was made by Mr Lawn, who thanked the Dunedin Brigade for the -hospitality they, had experienced on all sides, and assured them that if they again visited Ballarat the townspeople of the latter place would endeavor to return it. The Ballarat team considered they had been fairly beaten. Then there was more cheering. The Mayor was suitably thanked for presiding, and dancing was again resumed, being kept up with unflagging interest till nearly five o’clock. The Ballarat Brigade are being afforded an opportunity of seeing the district during their stay in this City. This morning they were driven to Blueskin in a six-horse coach under Ned Devine’s charge, Captain Atkinson and Lieutenant Falconer, of the D.V.F.8., accompanying them.