Wellington Fire Brigade Prepares For Centennial

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30563, 5 October 1964, Page 3

Wellington Fire Brigade Prepares For Centennial

(New Zealand Press .Association)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. Nearly 1000 visitors and their wives are expected to attend the centennial celebrations of the Wellington Fire Brigade. The date of the brigade's birthday is Tuesday, February 16, 1965. and during the week from February 15 to 20 there will be a parade of old and modern appliances, drill displays, fire prevention demonstrations and various social functions. During its centennial year, 1965, the Wellington Fire Brigade will be hosts for the following functions: Gold Star association reunion. Institution of Fire Engineers’ conference, Fire Brigades’ annual golf tournament. Fire Brigades’ Annual Rugby tournament, and the City of Wellington Fire Brigade Centennial Bali.

An appeal is being made to all former members of the brigade to get in touch with

the organising secretary, senior station officer T. Ker. The reunion and social events during “birthday” week, will be held at the winter show buildings, Wellington. where old and new firefighting appliances ranging from the early manual pumps, which were drawn by the firemen themselves, to the very latest 1964 pump-escape powered by a 196 h.p. RollsRoyce engine, will be on display. Twelve sub-committees are operating on the restoration of old appliances, and other centennial activities. One has the task of producing a book which will give a historical account of the Wellington Fire Brigade and its service. Sir Charles Norwood, who was chairman of the first Wellington Fire Board- when it was divorced from the Wellington City Council in 1926, will be patron of the centennial celebrations.