TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION OF THE FIRE BRIGADES.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 470, 17 December 1875, Page 3

TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION OF THE FIRE BRIGADES.

The annual torchlight procession of the Fire Brigade of Christchurch with the contingents from the brigades of the country districts took place last evening, and passed off very successfully, notwithstanding the unlucky contretemps which occurred in the afternoon and destroyed a large portion of the colored fires which the Christchurch brigade had prepared for illuminating the procession during its passage through various parts of the city. The procession was formed near Cashel street bridge in the following order: —Exforemen Gourlay and Roberts, the Pioneer book and ladder company, bearing torches; band of the volunteer engineers in uniform, the fire police, the steamer Extinguisher gaily decorated with flags and transparencies, and festooned with flowers, the KaianoiFire Brigade, the Dreadnought engine and company, the engine being ornamented with plumes of toi-toi grass and ornamented with flowers, having also a transparency with the motto “Always Ready,” and revolving Chinese lanterns; the Rangiora Fire Brigade, the steamer Deluge, brilliantly illuminated, with a tasteful ornamentation of flags and flowers. The procession took the following route:— Leaving Cashel street bridge it turned into Colombo street, thence into Hereford street, and passing over Lane’s bridge it proceeded along Cambridge terrace to Armagh street, Cranmer square, thence into the Whately road, and then it returned via Kilmore street to Colombo street, Cambridge terrace, where a halt for a few minutes took place. Starting again the procession moved from Yictoria bridge in a direct line to Barrett’s Hotel, St Asaph street, thence via Colombo street to the Lichfield street station, Bach man bore a lighted torch, and red and blue fires were burned from the engines during the passage of the procession through the streets, which were thronged with people. At the Lichfield street station the members of the brigade and the visitors were entertained by Mr Superintendent Harris. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and proposed the health of the Christchurch fire brigade, coupled with the name of Mr Harris, who, in acknowledging the compliment, mentioned that had it not been for the kindness of Professor Bickerton and Messrs Cook and Ross, the display of colored fires during the procession would have been very meagre, as the whole of the illuminations prepared by the brigade had been destroyed that afternoon by the fire at the market place station. The toast of “ Sister Brigades” was responded to by Mr Johnston, of the Rangiora brigade, and Mr Smith, of the Kaiapoi brigade. Messrs D. Craig and J. A. Bird replied to the health of the “Insurance Agents.” Mr Harris proposed “The Mayor and City Councillors,” to which his Worship the Mayor responded. Capt Mitchell replied to the toast of the “ Fire Police.” The visitors then left, and were accompanied to the railway station by several members of the Christchurch brigade.