The Demonstration at Hastings.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6988, 15 February 1894, Page 3

The Demonstration at Hastings.

[OWN COBBESrONDBNT.]

Last night Hastings turned out en masse to welcome the new steam fire engine, and from all points the people wended their way to the racecourse, without even the attraction of the totalisator. How many were lawfully on the course can be ascertained whou the gate money is counted. How many found their way in without passing Otrberus cannot be known. However, there they were, and bo far as could be judged in the darknees, there were more people there than at any race meeting. At any rate, within a radius of the operations, it was difficult to find a way through the throng. No extra charge was made for the grand stands, which were crowded. The night could not have been more favorable for the fcto, being both fine and dark, whioh last quality is necessary for the display of fireworks ; and which it might be said at once were ficst-class and went off without any hitch or accident. Indeed, the demonstration could not have been a success without them aud the colored lights, for otherwise the various tests to which the new engine was put could not have been fully appreciated. The procession, headed by the Hastings Band, started from the Fire Brigade station, and made a largo circuit of the town before entering the courso The chief point of attraction was the engine itself, drawn by four greys, lent by Mr Beeoroft; a torchlight procession of members; the manual engine, hose reels, &c , and the brewery engine, npon which were the " Darktown Fire Brigade," who created muoh amusement by their outdoor Christy business. ! Next to the steamer, the chief point oi interest in the prooession was the house which was to be burnt. This was drawn on an express. Tho course wf the procession was quite a triumphal one, enlivened with choors and applause, and embellished by colored lights. One or two hitches occurred en route, but these only added to tho zest of tho thing. 7'irst, the two front greys had to be tanen away, as either some of the gear wont wrong or the novelty of tho ovout was too muoh for the horses. At a later period the two remaining greys, not knowing tho high status of brigado horses, struck. Weddings they didn't object to, and now and then'would consent to fetch the Governor, but thin crowd, no! However, the orowd was as inflexible as the animals, and by pushing behind, and pulling in front, showed them that go the course they should, so they yielded a reluctant consent. Then with the weight of the Darktown

jokes, a wheel of the brewery engine gave way, and soon after getting into the grounds, one af the topmost "darkies " f*ll into the water, a misfortune greeted with inhuman jeers. Lest, however, the distant readers of this journal should think us inhuman, it may be mentioned that nowhere was the water on our looal park even so deep as the famous lake Mr Pickwick fell intj, and where such prodigees of valor were performed when the fat boy announced that it was only five feet deep. The steam fira engine is a handsomely finished machine, and for its size, of Shand and Mason's best and most modera make.

Under the guidance of the staff of the Brigade engineers, and assisted by your chief engineer, Mr Fothergill, the powers of the engine were fully tested, and pronounced very satisfactory, both by experts and the public. The pressure used was at no time more than 120lbs. The engine is capable of 2001bs pressure, but I suppose that limit would never be used. It was eutimated by an engineer present that one of the jets, at the time that four were in action, was throwing six hundred gallons par minute. The smallest nozzle employed was one and a-half inohes. The height attained by these in combination was considerably more than any building in Hastings. For experiment, the force was applied to a single jet and the height was doubled. Amongst the illustrations of its usefulness was the spray nozzle, which spreads the water over a large area at the same time. This, I am informed, is chiefly for damping surfaces to prevent the fire spreading. The white and colored lightß enabled the spectators and judges to see the height, and what with the changing colors and the stars from the fireworks, the effect upon the jets of water formed quite a fairy scene. The public of Hastings will fully endorse the remarks made by our worthy Mayor, that we have reason to be proud of the means of fire extinction, both in the Brigade and in our appliances. He said that now we had the steamer, no town of its size in Australasia is so fully equipped for fire. He said it was a proud day for him to stand upon that engine, whioh after so many efforts they had at length attained, and it should be equally so for his fellow citizens. Not only were they able to rest more peaceably with the knowledge that less danger existed from fire, but there was every reason now to expect a reduction of premiums from the insurance companies. His Worship then christened the engine in the orthodox way by breaking a bottle of Moet and Chandon (or something) over the footboard. The last part of the entertainmeut was burning the house, This was a good-sized imitation of a cottage made of canvas on a wood framework. It caused a good deal of fun, but through its being damp in some way it would not burn, and was broken to pieces. The

" Darktown Brigade " officiated here, and it is only fair to state that although a great amount of rough fun may be tolerated on such an oocasion that in no instance did I see or hear of its degenerating into any annoyance to the people or disorderly conduct of any kind. In the natural oourse of things, of course, some of us got sprinkled. The local band rendered most efficient assistance under Mr Leslie Fowler. Our thanks are due to Superintendent Waterwortb, Sub-Super-intendent Gilberd, Engineer Fothergill, and Lieutenant Grundy (Fire Police), from Napier.