FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION IN DUNEDIN.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 787, 29 December 1876, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION IN DUNEDIN.

The following account of the various events on Boxing Day is taken from the Otago Guardian ; HOSE COMPETITION. Ist prize—Silver (Jup, value £SO, presented by the United Insurance Association, and 8 silver medals, Ihe gift of demonstration committee ; 2nd prize—A silver watch, value £7 10.-!, presented by J. Sinclair, Esq ; 3ro' prize—Two branches,

This, which was the principal event of the day, was open to all comers, and the conditions of the contest were as follows!,:—Bight voen (not to exceed) to run with carriage 200 yards, fix hydrant, run out 80ft of hose, fix branch, and throw water over a rope stretched at the height of 10ft—the carriage to come back to a line drawn 15ft from hydrant; run out a second line of hose (80ft), fix branch, throw water as before ; branches to extend (70ft) from hydrant; each carriage to carry 200 ft of hose ; hydrant and branches on carriage, f-in nozzles ; the hose to be strictly copper-riveted 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 carriage past plug ; one point, first water ; one point, first two streams. The whole of the teams on the ground entered for this event, and as there were five entries the good fortune of drawing the “ bye,” which meant a full score without competing with any other team for it, fell to the lot of the Ballarat men. The advantage, however, was more apparent than real, since the Ballarat team, in running off the bye, made the quickest time of any, viz, and the shortest time by tho winning team was 63. j, sec, There can be no doubt, from Ihe above figures, that the contest was really a splendid one. The whole of tho men worked with remarkable steadiness and alacrity, and very good time was made, although not quite so good as has been made in the other colonics. The Auckland team was at some disadvantage, in consequence of having experienced a very rough passage from the North, and having had no time for practice, or to recover thoroughly from the effects of the trip, Still the men worked pluckily, and went through the competition within four seconds of the time it occupied the Dunedin team in tho final heat. It is to be regretted that the Wellington men were content to rest upon the laurels which Dunedin helped to win for them at Ballarat. The challenge competition had to be struck out of the programme, and the empire city was not represented in any of the contests. The Dunedin men made the quickest running, as they did the distance ill 24seo. Ballarat’s quickest time was 25sec, and Auckland time 33sec. In fixing the gear the Ballarat men uniformly gained upon their opponents. They got first water in and the Dunedin men got first water in 19Jsec. The Timaru and Dunedin teams first competed, then the Hokitika and Auckland teams, and afterwards Ballarat and Dunedin, and Dunedin and Auckland, The several competitions were as follows : The fust contest was between the Dunedin and Timaru teams, and in this ihe Dunedin team won the whole of the points. In the running to the plug Dunedin gained 14 seconds, and showed first and second water 8£ seconds before the Timaru team. The time was as follows : Dunedin-Run up, 26 sec ; first water, 19£ sec ; second water, 39|—total, 65i sec. Timaru—Run up, 33 sec ; first water, 28 sec; second water, 48 sec—total, 81 sec. Hokitika and Auckland then took the field. The run up between the Hokitika and Auckland team was almost a dead heat, and

Hokitika seemed, if anything, to be getting the best of it; the men behaved admirably, but unfortunately the Auckland branchman, in the heat of the excitement, appeared to get confused, and one of the branches fell about five yards from the plug. Auckland, however, won the three points, the time being— Auckland—Run up, 32sec; first water, 37aoc ; second do, 21 sec. Hokitika —Run up, 33sec ; first water, 40sec ; second do, 2lsec. Ballarat ran off its bye in the quickest time made during the competition—namely: run up, 25sec ; first water, 18}sec ; second water, 19acc—-total, 62}sec, The first tie was run off between Dunedin and Ballarat. Auckland drew the tie, and so made sure of second prize. This was won by Dunedin, which team gained 12}sec in the run up, won by 9}sec. Soon after starting the Ballarat men fell, and was dragg(~f«Mn|istaQce, and so they lost the the run up, although they strugg for it, and gained 3}sec in getting the two jets of water over the line. The result of the heat was:— Dunedin Run up, 24sec ; first water, 19}sec; second water, 20sec; total, 63}sec. Ballarat—Run up, 3fi *sec ; first water, 17}sec; second water, 18}sec; total 72.}. Auckland ran off its bye as follows: — Auckland —Run up, 32sec; first water, 2d}gcc; second water, 26sec; total, 82}, The final heat for the cup lay between the Dunedin and Auckland teams, Dunedin having beaten Ballarat in the first tie and Auckland having drawn the bye. It was expected that Dunedin would win, provided no accident occurred. Everything passed off without a hitch, and Dunedin won the cup, after a capital contest, in this tie, by.four seconds. The time was as follows :—Dunedin—Run up, 25sec ; Ist water, 22}sec; 2nd water, 18sec; total, 65}sec. Auckland—Bun up, 33sec; Ist water, 55}scc ; 2nd water, 11 sec. Dunedin won the whole of the points (9), and Auckland score 6. The Auckland team gained 3 points by drawing the bye, and so took second prize. The third prize was taken by the Ballarat team, ENGINE PRACTICE, Ist prize, value £3O ; 2nd prize, field glass with inscription), value 5 guineas, An unlimited number of firemen to run 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 aide of engine ; run out 80ft of leather delivery hose, fix branch, and throw water over a rope 10ft high ; delivery hose to be made up in coils and with branch, carried in the body of engine ; f-inch nozzle ; water to be drawn from canvas tank of engine ; a hydrant and hose fixed ; the competitors to turn on water—all joints to be disconnected.

This, undoubtedly, was the most laborious of the events. The Dunedin men r freshed themselves by a new team. It was at first proposed that instead of running the engine it should be allowed to be plated stationary, and that the members of the teams should run the distance. Objections, however, were urged on the ground that the Ballarat team would secure an undue advantage, having certain well • trained pedestrians among their number. The engine weighed 30 cwt, and was rather a cumbersome article to travel over the ground with, but the competitors, one and all, discussed the distance in capital time. But for the fact of their hose bursting, the Hokitikirms would have given an excellent account of themselves. As the result proved, the men of Ballarat made u, plucky effort, and redeemed their previous defeat by securing the first place well in advance of the rest. The celerity which they displayed in handling the apparatus elicited the admiration of all who were able to witness their performance, and they were loudly cheered as soon as it became known that they had won the event. LADDER AND HOSE PRACTICE, let prize, value £3O and silver medal to the branchman of winning team ; 2nd prize, a trophy (with inscription), value five guineas. Bight firemen to run hose carriage 150 yards ; fix hydrant; run out 120 ft of hose ; fix branch ; raise ladder against platform ; take hose up ladder and show water from platform ; }in nozzles, and wet hose ; hydrant and branch to be carried on carriage—competing brigades to lay ladder at foot of platform, ready to raise after their run ; platform 30ft high ; one ladder for ail brigades, and such ladder not to be used until the day of competition.

The Ballarat team showed admirable work. While the engine was being got in readiness, and as the ladder was in the act of being raised, the branchman, preceding the others, began his ascent, and with the daring of a Blondin climbed about half-way up the steps before the ladder rested against the platform. Two hosemen followed with the hose lashed to their arms, and by the time they reached the top, and the branch was inserted, the water from the engine was in readiness. The men were vociferously applauded for their daring and expedition. The Dunedin team also gave a good* account of themselves, but some minor mishaps put them at a disadvantage. As for the Hokitika team, it must bn acknowledged that they worked splendidly, and richly deserved the second place. The Tiraaru men had their rope entangled as the ladder was ascended, and hence the bad time which they made. This was the concluding event so far as the Fire Brigades were concerned, and the visitors began rapidly to disperse. A handicap walking match for youths followed, but it was of but trifling importance.

presented by Messrs A. and T. Burt. Dunedin team ••• ... ... 1st prize Auckland do ... ••• ... 2nd ,, Ballarat do • ■ • •• • ... 3rd „ Timaru do ... 0 Hokitika do ... 0

Ballarat, Imin ... 1 Dunedin, Imin 3£sec ... 2 Timaru, Imin 9aec • • • ... 3 Auckland, Imin IB^ses • •• ... 0 Hokitika, Imin 23^3c-c ... ... 0

Ballarat, 52 1 5sec ... 1 Hokitika, 1mm ... 2 Dunedin, Imin Cisco ... ... 3 Auckland, Imin 13acc ... 0 Timaru, Imin S2,Jsec ... ... 0