FIRE BRIGADE COMPETITION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 12 November 1884, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE COMPETITION.

From the N. Z. Times.

A fire brigade competition took place ill Featherston-street yesterday afternoon between teams representing the Wellington and Masterton Brigades. The contest, which resulted in a tolerably easy win for the local men, was witnessed by a large number of people, and the greates 1 ; interest was evinced throughout. The Mayor, Mr Geo Fisher, M.H.R, officiated as judge; Mr Boardman, of the South British Insurance Company, as starter; and Mr Hislop as timekeeper, The names of the Masterton team, who were under the command of Captain Keester, have already been published, and the Local Brigade were represented by the.following members :—Messrs Lawrence, Parsonage, White, Woolcott, Fumess, Kennedy, Murray, and Tetley. Superintendent Whiteford was present on behalf of the Wellington team, The first competition was in •' dry practice," which consisted of running the engine 100 yards runningout the hose, mid pumping throe strokes, The visitors first essayed .the task, and made it in 31secs. There was however, a. hitch about the performance, the coil having got underneath one of the engine wheels. On the return journey, which included packing the hose and turning the engine round,

their time was 60 3-10 sec. It should bo stated that Mr Hislopguve tho time at 50 2-Bsec, but a mistake having been made in the dropping of the flag, which announced arrival at the winning-post, the time, as taken by Mr Whiteford was made 60£ sec, The Wellington nipn followed, and in the running out made tho somewhat marvellous record of 28 3-10 se c; packing up and returning, however, they were 63ft>ec;, [so that each side so far had one and one. Tho wet practice, which . followed was the, same as the dry practice, except that on the hose being run out, water had to be pumped over the telegrapn wires. 'The time made by Mastorton, who led off again, was 62sec, and the Wellington representatives managed to do it in 60| sec, or a second and half faster. The Masterton captain protested at this part of the contest, on the ground—and apparently an admissible one—that the Wellington time had been taken before the water was thrown over-the wires. Nothing was done in the matter, although it appeared evident to many spectators that tho jet did not go fairly over the wires. In the hose and reel (wet) practice the Mastorton men were all abroad, the acquaintance with the hydrant being manifestly small. The time made by the Wellington men was 51 sec, and by the visitors 60-} sec. Wellington thus won by 3 points to 1. The form shown by both teams was first class, and doubtless that score of the 28 3.losec will long remain green' in the memory of the Mastertonians, Subsequent to the contest the teams met at the Fire Brigade Station in Panama-street, where the customary cheers we're given by both sides, A supper was given at tho Fire Brigade Hall, Manners-st., in the evening, when over thirty members of the two brigades sat down to table. In the earlier part of the evening Mr George Fisher, the Mayor, occupied the chair, but had to leave on account of indisposition, his place boing taken by Superintendent Whiteford, After the usual loyal toasts, Snperintent Whiteford proposed the Wellington Municipal Council, which was responded to by his Worship the Mayor. Healths of the Wellington and Masterton Firo Brigades, tho judge, timekeeper, and starter, the insurance companies, the caterer (Mr McDonald), the chairman, and the other usual toasts were then proposed and drunk. Numerous songs and recitations kept the gallant firemen united until a late hour.