F.F. B. Team's Trip to Christchurch

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 115, 26 March 1892, Page 2

F.F. B. Team's Trip to Christchurch

♦ Notes by the " Quiet One." {Continued from last issue), : . We left Lyttelton by the 10.30 train for Christchurch. "We had a dark time for some five minutes in the great tunnel* which was such a big undertaking thai after two New Zealand firms went bung over it a Melbourne firm came over and did the job, going 12 feet lower than the first plau, and thus missed the hard rock. On coming into day light again the splendid plains of Canterbury were open to our view ; another twenty-five minutes by rail and we board the bus on the road. A bath and lunch and off we marched to the Fire Brigade Station, where we were welcomed. We had a good practice and then made way for other teams, there being already about a hundred firemen mustered. On Saturday from 4 a.m. till 4 p.m. we had more practice, and then a stroll round the pretty city of Christchurch. Of course the Cathedral was .the first sight worth seeing and the most attractive — after the pretty girls. The' trams were mostly run by steam, but the' engines are a disgrace to the city, being: about 75 per cent worse looking than the" old Skunk was in the old days on the line between Foxton to Palmerston. One striking feature of Christchurch is the long line of curved-glass-roofed verandahs in front of the business places, and even when raining here (and it can do that, which we. know to our sorrow) one can go for a long walk without getting wet. This morning our respected captain put his head into our bath room and gave ns a big surprise, we having left him at home ill ; but the pluck of a fireman knows no bounds. There is- plenty of fruit here: pears 3d per lb, and splendid grapes for lOd and Is. We had a " good tack in," but the finish up with pork pies ' was too much for us. Fireman N. here " took the cake" for the largest storage. Sunday morning we divide : some to cbnrcb, but . the Captain and Foreman took a refresher on the tram to Sumner, a very neat little seaside resort eight miles out. They liked the ride much — and also the cost — -- as our Captain, with his usual politeness;, took the guard by storm by telling hinx they were aides'de-camp to the Governor, They went free, I would advise all who* go to Christchurch to be sure and take a trip to Snmner. At 2.30 we mustered for church parade — three brass bands and about 300 firemen turned out. The maia streets on the line of march were lined with people. The Bight was worth seeing:, firemen in all sorts of colours : red, blue, gray, black, blue-black. We felt proud to belong to belong to such a fine lot of men. We were welcomed to the Cathedral by the ringing of the splendid peal of bells, and a special sermon by Bishop Julius, which was a real treat to listen to — not going back among the Jews 2000 years ago but man to man at the present day — and for which a yote of thanks was carried unanimously at the conference nest day. On Monday morning we were up to practice at four, in the bright moonlight, but to our surprise the Marton team had already roused the station-keeper up for the engine. By 6 o'clock a host of teams were hard at it. Anyone not knowing would think the whole city waß on fire — steam engine fire escape, manual ladders going and men rushing about .with hose reels on every side. At 11 we decide to yisit the museum, but are " sold" this tiine= by finding a notice •' Not open on Mondays," and "No dogs allowed in." We were sorry, having heard this was the best show in New Zealand. The gardens around remind one of an old English park. Through an avenue of fine oaks" we made our way to the river Avon, andfor one shilling each we hire four boats 1 and enjoy an hour on this small but very pretty river. The willows planted ore both banks meet overhead and many touch the water. This, with the black swans swimming about, must be a lovely spot in courting days. Foreman E. was very nervous, but the boat lady told him not to fear as the water was only three feet deep. Captain Morey having arrived in time for the conference our sub-dele-gate, Foreman Eade, handed over the business to him. As you have already reported the business done I shall not refer to it here. By special invitation all the firemen who like to go are entertained by the Working Men's Club, who had had printed and sent to each fireman and hon- . orary members, tickets for their stay in Christchurch. (To be continued.)