RICHMOND FIRE BRIGADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 176, 24 August 1878, Page 2

RICHMOND FIRE BRIGADE.

The majority of the Nelson Eire Brigade— a detachment being left behind in case their services might he required in town— started from the Engine House, headed by the Battalion Band, at six o'clock last night in torchlight procession for the railway station, on their way to Richmond, where they had promised to inaugurate the newly-formed local Brigade. They were accompanied by Dr Collins, the surgeon of the Brigade, and the agents of the Royal, New Zealand, and Norwich Union Insurance Companies. On the way out colored fires were burned, which doubtless presented a very pretty appearance to people who were looking on from outside ; to those in the train, however, they must have awakened recollections of breakfast time at Mrs Squeers' celebrated establishment, Dotheboys Hall, when the unhappy lads were drenched with brimstone and treacle, only that the boys had au advantage over the passengers, in that the latter had the brimstone without the treacle. Arrived at the Richmond station, where a large crowd had gathered to receive them, the Brigade once more lighted their torches, and with the Band at their head marched to the Star and Garter Hotel. The engine having been brought up from the station the alarm was sounded, and the scene of the supposed fire being Mr Croucher's new-erected mill, 800 feet of hose were speedily run out, and in the course of a very few minutes a stream of water was playing on the roof, which must be close upon 40 feet in height. The engine was then shifted to the Pair Ground and worked by the Richmond men, and after that to Hodder's corner, where some good practice was performed by the country brigade. The closing act was at the Star and Garter, where they went through tbe ladder practice, in which both companies acquitted themselves remarkably well. The jumping off the roof into a sheet below caused infinite amusement to the crowd who had gathered, many of whom had never seen this portion of the brigade's drill before, and the effect was much heightened by the scene beiug lighted up by blue and rose colored lights alternately. The members of the brigades aud their friends then adjourned to the long room of he Hotel, where supper was laid out, and after the appetites that had been sharpened by the two hours' work with the engine were appeased, Mr Canning called upon the Richmond people to driuk the health of Captaiu Lightfoot and the Nelson Eire Brigade, to whom he offered on the part of the local 'brigade his sincere thanks for their kindness in going out to give the new company a lesson MrJ. A. Harley then made a long speech, and at its close kindly nominated Mr Canning aa the Captain of the Richmond Brigade but as they bad already appointed one in Mr Gapper, his recommendation did not meet with the cordial reception he had probablv anticipated. Captain Lightfoot returned thauk3 for himself and his men, and proposed the health of the Richmond Brigade when Mr J. A. Harley again rose to speak' which was the signal for a rush to the door' that was only checked by Captain Gapper rising to return thanks for the manner in which the toa3t of the Richmond Brigade had been proposed and received. A procession was then formed, and the Nelson men with their lighted torches, marched back to the station, acompanied by their Richmond friends, who cheered them loudly as ihe train moved off.