FIRE BRIGADES’ DEMONSTRATION AT DUNEDIN.

Kumara Times, Issue 2622, 31 January 1885, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADES’ DEMONSTRATION AT DUNEDIN.

The following is a complete record yet received of the various competitions at the Fire Brigade demonstration, which commenced at Dunedin, on Wednesday last. There were only 24 brigades entered from various parts of the colony. Most of them took iheir own gear, which gave them some advantage over those brigades which took no gear, of which Kumara was one. We can hardly conceive the possibility of competition going on harmoniously under such circumstances, and we learn that only one contest has been gone through without a hitch. The Wellington Brigade brought patent swing couplings, bub the Auckland and Hokitika men objected to them, and the judge would not allow them to be used. The Wellington Brigade then telegraphed for instructions to Superintendant Whiteford, Wellington, who, in reply, advised them to withdraw from all the competitions, and they did so. The couplings objected to were those in ordinary nse by the Brigade. In the Hose Practice, Nelson, Kumara, and the Christchurch Railway teams were disqualified, but our correspondent does not state for what reason. In the Hose and Ladder Practice, he says “ Kumara ran with four men.” The programme states that this event could be competed for with “five men (not to exceed),” which of course implies that it would be competent for four men, or three, to compete against five men. But, if otherwise, we shall anxiously wait some explanation of the absence of two out of six men who went to represent Kumara. Of course we do not wish to find fault without giving opportunity of some explanation being afforded. Considering it is the first trial Kumara has yet had in any public competition, the team must be allowed to have done very well. They were sixth or fifth in the Engine Practice, when 18 teams competed; and in the Curricle Engine Practice, which was quite new to them, they won fourth place among eleven teams which competed. And ever, if they had come away without bringing a prize, it would have been good practice for them, and they will have learned many things which will doubtless prove of permanent benefit to themselves and to the brigade here. The following are the results of the various events :

HOSE PRACTICE. First Prize.—A Massive Clock (ringing the Canterbury Chimes), and Five Gold Medals, presented by the Fire Underwriters’ Association, to cost £SO cash. Second Prize.—Handsome Cup, value £10: presented by the Proprietor of the Coffee Palace. Third Prize.—Two Copper Branch pipes, presented by Messrs A. and T. Burt. Five men (not to exceed) to run 10 yards, pick up reel ; run one hundred (100) yards to fire plug; fix hydrant, run out 100 feet canvas

hose; fix branch ; throw water over a rope stretched at the height of 10 feet; then fix union, and run out 50 feet canvas hose from each delivery of union ; fix branches, and shew

water over rope as before. Each reel to carry 250 feet hose, hydrant, branches, and union, (|-inch nozzle*). The hose to be wet to commence with; strictly canvas hose, not less than 2-|-inch, and in no way prepared or liner!. Both lines from union to run in same dilection, and not to be crossed. The quickest time to ho the winner. Time will be ink.n ft bin start t * sho'v W;i T er over rope.

Wanganui, Imin. 4secs 1 Port Chalmers, Imin. ISfsecs. ... 2 Dunedin, Imin. 14secs 3 The time taken by the other competing teams was as follows: Min. Secs. Hokitika 1 15 Timaru ... ... 1 16^ Grahamstowu ... 1 19 New Plymouth ... 1 22| Lyttelton ... ... 1 23^ Spit 1 24^ Rangiora ... ... 1 28 Masterton... ... 1 28 Ashburton ... 1 51-J Nelson. Kumara, and Christchurch Railway were disqualified. ENGINE PRACTICE. Pirat Prize.—A Trophy and Five Silver Medals, valued at ,£25 cash—presented by the Corporation of Dunedin. Second Prize.—A Piece of Mosgiel Tweed, sufficient for five suits, value £6.— Presented by the Mosgiel Woollen Factory. Third Prize. —One Hydrant—Presented by Messrs Anderson and Morrison. Five men (not to exceed) to be lying down as if in bed (in a tent provided). At a signal from the Judge to get up and dress before leaving the tent (or time will be added); put on tunic, boots, helmet, belt, and spanner; to run 25 yards, connect to engine, and pay out from one side of engine two lengths of canvas hose, 50 feet each ; fix branch (J-inch nozzle), connect two lengths suction hose to engine (strainer to be previously attached); turn over, secure, and unlock levers, lock fore-carriage; to pump from a dam, previously filled with water, over a rope 10 feet high. Time from start to water showing over a rope. Napier, Imin. Ifsecs 1 Spit, Imin. 7secs 2 Auckland, Irain.Tlsecs. ... ... 3 The other teams were declared in the following order of time ; Min. Secs. Dunedin 1 lit Masterton 1 11-t-Kumara 1 15-^ Christchurch ... 1 16 Lyttelton 1 19-| Grabamatown. ... 1 19| Wanganui... ... 1 20|Eoslyn ... ... 1 2l| Hokitika 1 23^ Rangiora ... ... 1 24| Soutli Dunedin ... 1 29|Tiraarn 1 30£ Nelson 1 34 Ashburton ... 1 50 4 Invercargill ... 1 55 A protest was entered by the Dunedin men against the Auckland team on the ground that they made up their hose wrongly. The Invercargill team was disqualified because they neglected to lock their fore carriage. HOSE AND LADDER PRACTICE. First Prize.—Trophy and Five Silver Medals, valued £25: presented by the Dunedin Banks. Second Prize.—A Trophy, valued £5 ss: presented by the United Fire Brigades Association, N.Z. Third Prize.—A Handsome Cabinet, valued £3 3s ; presented by Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen. Five men (not to exceed) to run 10 yards, pick up reel; run 100 yards to fire plug; fix hydrant, run out 100 feet canvas hose; fix branch, raise ladder against platform, take hose up ladder, and show water from platform. f inch nozzle and wet hose, hydrant, and branch to be carried on reel. Competing Brigades to lay ladder at platform ready to raise after their run, platform 25 feet high. One ladder for all Brigades, and such ladder not to be nsed until the day of competition. Time from start to showing water from platform. Napier, 49secs. ... ... ... 1 South Dunedin, 50secs. ... ... 3 Kumara, 69|secs. ... ... ... 3 The Kumara team was one man short, and the judges gave them third prize. The time of the other teams was as follows : Secs. Raugiora 54 Masterton ... ... 55 Wanganui ... ... 56 Dunedin ..r ... 57 Hokitika ... ... 68f ENGINE PRACTICE. DRY, One Man. First P rize.—A Clock, valued £4 4s : presented by Messrs P. Hayman and Co. Second Prize.—Gold Medal, valued £2 2s: presented by T. Amos, Esq., President of the Association. Third Prize.—A Meerschaum Pipe and 11). best Tobacco, valued £1 10s., presented by Mr Meudersbausen. One man to start 20 yards from Engine in full working untorm; lock foiecarriage, turn over and secure levers,

connect one length suction hose to Engine, (strainer to be previously attached), connect to Engine and run out 50 feet canvas hose, fix branch, and stand branch in band, hose and branch to be in tank of Engine, suction in side pocket. Time from start to finish. Twe men from each team competed iu this separately. Dunedin was represented by O’Gormon, who did it in 47|secs., and Top and Tottersall 53secs. In no other case has this time been equalled. Olliver, one of the Rangiora men, did it in 54secs,, but his colleague Meriowood, took 64secs. Ewington, of Masterton, took 59|secs., Smith, of South Dunedin, 60secs., and Boyle of Napier, 60Jsecs. CURRICLE ENGINE PRACTICE. First Prize.—A Cup, value £3 3s.— Presented by T. Hislop, Esq. Second Prize.—A Picture, presented by J. Waldon, Esq. Five men to run 25 yards to engine, extend levers, connect two lengths of suction hose with strainer attached ; run out two 50 feet lengths of canvas hose, fix branches, and show water over a rope 10 feet high from a dam previously filled with water. South Dunedin, 37secs 1 Spit, 39|secs. ... 2 This was the only event without a hitch. Kumara was fourth, as follows : Secs. Wanganui ... ... 44 Kumara ... ... 44-| Roslyn ... ... 45| Napier ... ... 45| Waimate ... ... 46|Dunedin ... ... 49 Rangiora ... ... 49 Invercargill ... ... 54| Ashburton ... ... 56 ALARM AND RUSH. Firsst Prize.—A Field Glass, value £2 2s: presented by Messrs Hallenstein and Farquhar. Second Prize.—Trophy or Money, value, £1 10s: presented by Demonstration Committee. Third Prize.—Trophy or Money, value £1 : presented by Demonstration Committee. Fireman to run 25 yards to clothes, throw off private coat, put on uniform consisting of tunic, helmet, belt, and spanner; run 200 yards to Engine. First, second, and third man to take first, second, and third prize. To draw for places. Two entries from each Brigade. This was won by Copeland, of Wanganui, with Campbell, of Wanganui, second, and Hounslow, of Masterton, third. It was completed in heats. One competitor got lost in the crowd which spread over the ground, and in the final, Boyle, of Napier, was left at the post. The Hokitika team did not compete in the curricle, engine, or hydrant contests. The visiting teams leave for their homes to-day. THE BAD AND WORTHLESS Are never imitated or counterfeited. This is especially true of a family medicine, and it is positive proof that the remedy imitated is of the highest value. As soon as it had been tested and proved by the whole world that Hop Bitters was the purest, best and the most valuable family medicine on earth, many imitations sprung up and began to steal the notices in which the press and the people of the country had expressed the merits of H. 8., and in every way trying to induce suffering invalids to use their stuff instead, expecting to make money and credit on the good name of H. B. Many others started nostrums put up in similar style to H. 8., with variously devised names in which the word “Hop” or “Hops” were used in a way to induce people to believe they were the same as Hop Bitters. All such pretended remedies or cures, no matter what their style or name is, and especially those with the word “Hop” or “Hops” in their name or in any way connected with them or their name, are imitations or counterfeits. Beware of them. Touch none of them. Use nothing but genuine American Hop Bitters, with a bunch or cluster of green Hops on the white label, and Dr. Soule’s name blown in the glass. Trust nothing else. Druggists and Chemists are warned against dealing in imitations or counterfeits.