MASTERTON STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2665, 4 August 1887, Page 2

MASTERTON STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

As roe'n'tiofied in our laat issue, the Mas'tettoii'Ste'am'Fira Engine arrived' yw .terdayV'B'jid'rec'otyod its trial at the creek : in Albert-Sttfot.' I'inding that everything connected vith-the now importation was of a .most isatjsfactory description, His - Worship trie Mayor, the majority of fho Borough CouncilW, and the members of \ the Municipal Fire Brigade conceived the; §-. idea of Riving the public an opportunity of becoming acquainted with this lateßt addition to the .fire extinguishing plant of the Borough. Consequently a torch light procession, chriatoning, and. public trial was arranged to commence at' aovon o'clock last evening. The weather waa in ovory way favorable for the deirJjnstratioh, the bright moonlight nm tempting a great many to visit the scSo of operation. The mm of the arrival spread through tho town liko wildfire, and although a Bhort notice was given, a large crowd assembled in the vicinity of the Fire Brigade Station to watch the proceedings. Puuctual to time; .Captain Barker marshalled hia men, and, headed by Pearson's Private Band, paraded the town with the new ongine, drawn by two horses, and mounted by firemen in uniform, the accompanying torches showing up the works to perfection. The members- of tho Volunteer Fire Brigado, not to be outdone, also took part in tho prooession with theirmanual engine, which wm mounted and illuminated with torches.. On the return of the procession to tho. Firo Bell-Tower a halt was nude, \ and the' Mayoress ..(Mra M. performed the"-interesting ohmtoningljP ceremony. Mounted on the engineer's step, tho Mayoress, who was accompanied by the Mayor and Bovoral of tlie Borough OpuuciUorß,:;b;ro.ktt-'a bottle of champagne on the .fly-wheel,vnaming the engine the " Jubiloa.'.'-. ythe:cruiwd gave three cheers, the fire' boll; rapijji. short poal, the baud played"Goa&vrthoQueon,'and the cerembhv'waß' s ov))if. The. ongine *d§ then taken--to-th'S creek' opposite 8> Brigade.; Statidn^Whero. the trial took plm;Bteam;:faß>: generated iu eight ten minuteß from tho timei of Hghttn$ f ;tho fire the pumps werei' at 1 ' work, singlo lengths of to were and to these two Y bre'ochings'vfore' I 'attached, allowing ;fpur:branchept(j'wo\|c at tho same time, fheloi'fietofiwater'-rrom tho four nozzles waa .;Bomewhife surprising, tho Btream going .'. above Cockbum'i blook','. ; admirably, koeping with regularity. The'fo'urbranches 1 were.thon removed, and. two Bingle ones'tried, when a powerful stream was thrown over St. Matthew's Church spire. After working with satisfaction for about an hour, tho gear was packed and the engine housed, the Brigade being careful to place everything >1 ready in case of an alarm of fire. The mombers arid friends of both Brigades subsequently accepted the invitation of the Mayor and several Borough Councillors to another, ceromony at tlw 1 Club Hotel, viz., that of dnuking Hucoesa to the "Jubilee." ?he first toast" Success to|he Jubiloo Fire Engine," was honored man [ siastic manner, and the Major rose tjffc' propose the next toast on thedist, that or '"The two Fire Brigades" (lojid cheers). He said he w.ould placo the; Volunteer Fire Brigade'first as; thoy M 'always '. given their services freely for the interest of the town, and was the first brigade m •.the place. (Cheers.) They had done good :wdrk for several years in protecting property in Masterton, and had' always worked to the best of their ability. Theft ' were shortcomings efforts, which he did not consider was all their fault, as buildings had increaaedand the town «•'

tended, but the appliances had not kepi pace with tbe general prisms, henci their inability to cope successfully will; fires of any magnitude (hear, hear.) He thought they had earned the gratitude «f' the pcoplo of Masterton. (Cheers.; Their shortcoming and mishaps had been keenly criticised and pointed out, but their good deeds wore .unnoticed, ,(hear,liear)'He believed in criticism, as it opened the eyes of the pepple to'nppruaching,.dan?er,and.showed that'the appli; . nftces that ,wero; used nine years ago' were no longer sufficient for,the s requirements , ...of tho town, ...The outcome. oL such criticism was the V" jubilee,-"■ (Cheers.) : .' On -behalf of the Borough; Couucil and the inhabitants of Mastertoii,heexpre3sed their, gratitude to tho Masterton Volunteer Fire Brigade.' (Cheers).' sov! they had a steam Fire Engine he'could not seo ; .. why both brigades should nut amalgamate (hear hear, and applause)." He Hoped that the two Manuals and the Jubilee would be found workiug together, and that nothing but a friendly rivalry would be found between both brigades, (Cheers). He couplod tho names of Captains Muir -Jind Barker, and also their guest Mr J. "ml. Gilbord of Napier, who had so ably •nßßißtetl them at their initiatory practice (Cheers). Captain Muir, on behalf of the Volunteer Brigado, returned thanks, and expressed a hope that nothing more than friendly rivalry would exist among the Brigades, Ho had- always advocated a steam Firo Engine for Masterton, as lie considered tho progress of tho towu demanded some better moaiw »f protection . from firo, and ho was sure, alter tho way in which.the "Jubilee" workod thatj night, it would bo,of immouso sorvico in checking a conflagration. (Cheors), Captain Barker on behalf of tho " Municipals" said that the; trial had proved vory satisfactory, and ho hoped that the men would make themselves acquainted with the new engine, so that they would be able to do their work well k should they he, required. He was sure that both Brigades would work for tho best interest of the town, and that nothing but a friendly spirit would be shown. (Cheers.) _Mr J. G, Gilbord, in returning thanks said he was greatly pleasod and surprised to hoar such friendly expression from tho Captains of both Brigades,' as he had been led to believe that it was quite the reverse. .Ho was pleased to see«' rivalry between them as tho spirit of emulation t fostered, which would, end in their lal benefit and alau to tho best nits of the town. (Hear hear.) Ho said that if the ratepayers would only consider what they owed the lire brigades they would subscribe moro; liberally to-wards-.prizoß for competition among tho members, creating extra interest in the work and in Brigade mates ponerally (Cheers). He concluded by expressing a wish that tho'Jubilee would be ''always ready but never wanted," " . The health of-the Mayoress was pro- ; "pgaedby Cr T. Ohambarlrin andrecbivcd ;; wUhchoers. The Mayorroturuod thanks. |' :: , Tho healt.h of tho.Mayor was 'proposed' \ by Cr.Parsons, received with applauso, v . ; -.awl duly acknowledged. .The speeches' were freely interspersed ".with songs and recitations, tho vocal ;' titlent being -.powerful enough to keep up ;'.'4" continuous stream of; harmony.' and .'; :'#eutho.company'.Bep3rated'at midnight ;.'.;|u»iyjigi'eed that the .ceremony of chns';';teniitf; the "Jubilee" waß one long to bo "''romoiubored.: Recitations wore given by '.'. Jfosi'B Muif and R, Brown, and Bongs JMeisrs 0. Ewinyton, Manseil,. .Bart-fr-Langloy, Marsh and Wiokeraon.. .Wo _ d'over a description of tho' Jubilee' :";till,our:ne3tt-is3Uf.