FIRE BRIGADES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 171, 6 December 1912, Page 8

FIRE BRIGADES.

THE TARAXAKf ASSOCIATION. first AxxrAi, demonstration. The Taranaki Provmcial Fire Brigades' Association's first annual demonstration was held on Woolcombe Terrace yesterday, and was an outstanding success. Tin; programme of events cnintii'-nced at nine o'clock in the morning, and was continued throughout the whole day. All the events were keenly contested, and m many casi < a higlily ereditablo degree of efficiency was reached. As a means of increasing the competitors' knowledge of the practical side of their work, the demonstration was invaluable, it also' served, as succeeding demonstrations will continue to serve, to enhance their interest in their work, and enable firemen to profit by the mistakes of themselves and the experience of their fellows. Such gatherings stimulate a fviendlv rivalry amongst the numerous brigades in the district, the result of which is reflected in the increased skill and efficiency in the more serious work of lire-fighting proper. It speaks well for the enthusiasm of brigndesmen in Taranaki that, with one exception, the whole of the brigades affiliated to the Association were represented at the demonstration, and in most cases by very strong and well-trained contingents. Everything went off practically without a. hitch, and the weather was ideal. It was a hard day's work tjr the competitors, and welcome refreshments were handed round from time to time by an .energetic committee of ladies: .Uodantes l'\ and P. Bellr'mger, Monk, A. Boon, J. Clarke, W. Sadler. There was a. fair attendance of spectators, who manifested a keen interest in' all that took place.

■COUPLING EVENT. In the coupling event two men had to run 25yds., fix hydrant, connect 50ft. lioso to each delivery of the hydrant,, connect a union to each 50ft. hose and then another length of hose to each delivery on each union,, and further to connect the four lengths each with a branch and run four yards to the finish. Nineteen teams entered, and Lieut. A. P.oon and Secretary if. J-\)i'd, of the New Plymouth Brigade, put up a record run of 31 3-ssoe. They seemed first place, and the Waitara A team and the Hawera B team tied for second place in 3tsec, in the run-off Hawera winning. Results:— New Plymouth A (Lieut. A. Boon and Secretary 11. Ford), 31 3-ssec 1 Hawera B (Deputy-Superintendent MeAneny and Fireman S. Peters) 3-lsee., run-off time 37see 2 Waitara A (Fireman B. Murgatroyd and Branchman P. Holmes), 34sec, run-off time 4iy 3 sec 3 FIVE-MEN COIL.

In the five-men coil, five men had to run ten yards, pick up four lengths hose, hydrant, union and two branches, run '25 yards to the plug, connect up with the hydrant, fix the branches, etc., and with both waters strike the two discs. The New Plymouth team again proved triumphant, with Fitzrov a good second. Results:—

New Plymouth (Lieut. A. Boon, Foreman J. Clark, Secretary 11.

Ford, Firemen W. Roch and \V. I Sadler), 31sec 1 | Ftf/roy (Lieut. W. Sturmcy, Fire- : men I. Aroa, G. C. Kibby, R.. J "Davy and R. Jcnl<ins),"33 4-ssec. 2 j Waitara (Lieut. G. Bird, Firemen | P. Holmes, B. Murgatroyd, A. | Bo wen and C. McLean), 355ec... 3

The Hawera team (37 l / 2 see..) and I Stratford (43%5ec.) also finished, while] Eltham, Inglewood and Patea com- j peted, but failed to finish. j RESCUE EVENT. The rescue event, which involved the j "rescue" of a dummy 651b in weight, from a high platform, was contested by j ten teams. Results: Stratford A (Firemen B. Burgess and R. Boon), 23 4-ssec, 1; Hawera B (Firemen Peters and Castles), 24scc, 2; Eltham A (Firemen Robinion and Grant), 24 4-ssec, 3. Also si a iled: Hawera C 20 2-ssec, Waitara A 26 3-ssec, Patea A 28 l-ssec, Hawera A II 2-ssec. FIVE-MEN LADDER. Five-men ladder, one man to run 25 ', yards to ladder and ascend to platform. Results: Hawera (Firemen Hall, Canton, 1 Castles, Hurley, Peters), 36 l-ssec. (including 3 /oSCC. penalty), 1; Stratford (Lieut. Wilson, Firemen Boon, Burgess, Davy, Drake), 37 2-ssec, 2; Eltham (Firemen C. and G. Robinson, Grant, Taylor, Dillon), 43scc, 3. Also started: Patea 48 1-osec, Fitzroy 48 2-Sscc, New Plymouth and Waitara both disqualified. Three men, hose and union. Results: Firemen Aroa and Kibby, 36 2-ssec. (including 2sec. penalty), 1; New Plymouth B (Firemen Sadler, Doughty, Roch), 38, l-ssec. (including %sec. penalty), 2; Hawera B (Firemen Hurley, Castles, Canton), 38 2-ssee. (including lsec. penalty), 3. Also competed: Stratford A 30 3-ssec (M-sec. pen.), Patea A 4iy 2 see. pen.), Stratford B 47sec. (lsec. pen), Inglewood A. 47y2sec. (2y 2 sec. pen.). Waitara B 49 4-seec. (2sec. pen.), Eltham A 50 l-ssec, and New Plymouth A, Patea B, Waitara A, Eltham B, all disqualified.

LADDER RACE. Ladder race: One man to run 25yds. to ladder and ascend-to platform. Hawcia A (Fireman Peters), 7 2-ssec, 1; Waitara A (Lieut. Bird), 8 l-ssec, 2; Patea B, 8 2-ssec, 3. Fifteen others started.

The consolation event was won by Waitara, with Patea second.

CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD. The following is the position of the brigades for the championship shield:— Fitzroy 29, Stratford 29, Hawora 29, Now Plymouth 24, Waitara 28, Eltham 12, Paka 10. Seeing- that three brigades have tied for the shield, it will rest with the Association as to how the matter is to be decided.

VISITORS ENTERTAINED. In the evening, members of the visiting teams were entertained at the. Central Station by members of the local brigades, a very convivial evening being spent. Mr. F. 'C. J. Bellringer, Superintendent of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade, presided.' . Responding to the toast of the United Fire Brigades' Association, Mr. Bellringer ■aid that although that body had done much good in the past there were yet many things for it to accomplish. He thoroughly believed—and he thought the sentiment was endorsed by the whole of the brigadesmcn throughout the Dominion—that it was doing splendid work at the present time. The men associated with it wre eager to place the fire-fight-ing .service on a better footing, and lift it to a higher plane. One of the things to do was to increase the number of fire boards in the Dominion. Touching on another point, he said that to-day the brigades had a fine system of insurance, whereby firemen meeting with accidents, and those killed while on duty were provided for. Tn a few months' time firemen would be called upon to send delegates to the conference at Wanganui, and he anticipated that it would be one of the largest yet held in the Dominion. In connection with the conference, firemen's competitions would be held, and the AVanganui people wore doing their utmost to put competitors to the severest test. In some events the heavy nature of the work had been the subject of comment by the Taranaki Association, with the result that a protest / would shortly be sent to the executive, asking them to delete several features '

of the programme. Concluding, he thanked ihose present for the enthusiastic manner in which they drank the toast of the United Fire Brigades' Association, and for their loyalty to tho Taranaki Association. Several other toasts were honored, and during the evening reference wag made 'by various speakers to the hospitality of the local brigade, and the benefit to be derived by the country brigades from demonstrations such as had been held tli.it day. On the entertainment side, enjovable items were contributed by Messrs. Wadraan, Preece, Mclsaaes, Tunbridge, T. Wilson, Vincent and Courtney. '." During the evening the chairman presented the medals won that daj-.