THE FIRE BRIGADE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2028, 13 March 1907, Page 2

THE FIRE BRIGADE

TEAM LEAVING SOUTH TONIGHT. On Monday night the team representing the local Fire Brigade had their final practice and put in some very fair work. To-night the team loavo for South, and will try got in some good practice in Christchurch, hut with the large number of likely competitors their opportunities will bo limited. Tho team consists of Sub-Superintendent Wildish, Foreman A. Thomson, Firemen N. Kirk, J. Sims, G. Lappidge, and W. Fraser emergency. Although this team is not fully represent? tive of the full strength of the Brigade, it was the only team available for the journey, and although not equal to many of the past teams either for speed or weight, they have put in some very solid work at practice, and with a little element of luck, may score in some of the events. A few remarks on the personnel of the team may be interesting : G. Wildish is the oldest representative in the combination, and probably will have attended more Association meetings than any member of tlie Association, and is the expert of the Brigade in ambulance work. The veteran of the team, he is looked upon as the best all-round man in the Brigade. He has held the local championship all-round medal on several occasions.

A. Thomson is another member who has passed the time or life when a man is supposed to bo at his best in such work. But it is a moot point as to which is the better of the two. Wildish or Thomson. The latter, like the veteran, has also held the all-round medal on more than one occasion. J. Simm is on the slow side for a first-class man, but has enthusiasm and confidence. This will he his first attendance at an Association meeting. ... N. Kirk: Fairly fast, with a pair of good hands; has done fairly well at two local competitions; a little more energy would help o make him a good team man. - \V Fraser: Emergency man; lias not previously represented the Brigade outside; was emergency at Christchurch in 1897; has done fairly good work in local • competitions, l,ut owing .to nervous temperamen , fails to do himself justice. Manv of the old residents will remember how in the absence of a Brigade the town suffered in the early days from serious fires. A Brigade was formed with Captain Winter m command. For some reason or other, however, they soon disbanded, and the present Brigade was formed in 1883 under the command of our worthy Mayor, and I believe I am correct in saying he has put up a New Zealand record, having been m charge ever since without a break, ail 1 with credit to himself and honor to the Brigade. About 1884 the "need of a fire steamer was apparent, and a canvass of the town being made, the public responded, and think of it, £750 was raised in one day, and the present engine, which was then at the Melbourne Exhibition was secured. Without a doubt it is one of the best bargains the corporation has ever made, and it has. done excellent service ever since. At tlie large fire at the bottom of Gladstone road, the steamer was taken to the rivers, and did splendid work. Later on it was considered advisable to lay water mains in a part of Gladstone road, and the steamer was then attached to tlie 1 connections at the river, and was made a fixture, being used for pumping onlv, and lias in the absence of high pressure supply, been of excellent service at fires where the mains could be used. About 1886 it was decided to send a team consisting of Sup. Townley, Morrison (2), G. Humphreys, and T. Hacelie, to Napier, to represent the Brigade at the Association meeting for the first time, more for educational purposes, than with any idea of gaining honor and glory, and the Scots Greys, as they were called, from the color of their uniforms, were a lucky last in every event. However they stuck to their work, and with tlie inclusion of some new members, a good deal of enthusiasm was put into the Brigade. At the next local competition some failwork was shown, and a very good team was sent to the competition, held at Dunedin. After this the Gisborne team -showed great improvement, and scored many of the plums at the Association meetings. In the “nineties” the Gisborne

were looked upon as tlie champion team of the colony, and in IS9—. they had the pleasure of bringing hack the handsome challenge shield which now adorns the walls of the

Borough Council Chambers, for the first time, from Christchurch, tlie team' consisting of T. Morrison, who was probably the smartest man who has ever competed in New Zealand, with three or four records standing to his name at times. W. Fox, who from his muscular frame, speed, and coolness, was the king pin of the combination. G. Wildish, who was also in the first flight; W. Mitchell, the sprinter of the team, and the next year T. Morrison, W. Fox, G. Wildish, W. Mitchell, F. Allen represented the brigade, and set the seal on their fame by winning the trophy right out in tlio very fast time of 47.3-5 secs., a record which has not been approached since by nearly five seconds. Since that time tho teams have not been up to the same standard, although they have generally managed to get into the winning list, and’ let us llopo they will do so on this occasion. - '