FIRE BRIGADE ASSN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1929, Page 12

FIRE BRIGADE ASSN.

MEETING AND DEMONSTRATION The annual meeting of the West Coast Fire Brigades’ Association was held at Otira on Friday evening in conjunction with the annual Demonstration. , The following delegates were present: —President Coxall (Reefton), Deputy Superintendent A. White and Secretary Walton (Greymduth), Captain Gilmoui’ and Lieutenant Skeates (Cobden), Captain McFarlane and Lietenant MbEnaney (Kumara), Fireman Hickford (Westport), Fireman Wliliams (Hokitika). Ross was represented by Captain McFarlane, and Denniston by Fireman Hickford. The President (Captain Coxall) extended a welcome to delegates. The annual report was read and commented on as very satisfactory. Reference was made to the death of two members, Superintendent Clark and Foreman J. Grogan, of the Greymouth Brigade, members standing in silence as a mark of respect. . The balance' isheet, showed a credit of £l5 5/8 for the end of the year, which had increased by £35 by a donation by the United Fire Brigades’ Association.

The annual report was as follows:— Your Executive, in presenting their annual report, are pleased to state that everything is going satisfactor-ily. The Demonstration held in Reefton last year was a great success, some very fast times being recorded, while the youngest Brigade in our Association, Otira, won the Russell Aggregate Shield for the second time. ments having been made between the Otira and Kumara Brigades, the former took over the running of the Demonstration this year. By a request of the Otira Brigade to have a more up-to-date event in place of the two men coupling (Rose Cup), your Executive, after due consideration, acceded to the request, which we trust will meet with your approval. After numerous applications, the Executive of the U.F.B.A. has granted to your Association a subsidy of £35, which we are quite sure will be greatly appreciated. It is with deep regret that death has taken from our ranks two Gold Star members of 40 years’ service, Superintendent Clarke and Foreman Grogan, both being a great loss to the fire service of our Association, and who we can ill afford to lose.— For the Executive, C. Coxall (President), J. G. Walton (Secretary). It was decided to recommend to the incoming Committee . that next year’s Demonstration be held in October or early in November. The Executive’s action in granting £lO to the Otira Brigade for Demonstration purposes was endorsed. The Ross Brigade’s application for the next Demonstration to be held at Ross was granted. Demonstration officials elected were as follow :—Referee, Past President White; Judges and Examiners, Capt. McFarlane, Capt., Williams, Lieut. Skeates, Lieut. McEaney, Capt. Gilmour, Capt. Coxall, ex-Fireman Richards of Christchurch Brigade; Timekeepers, Fireman Hickford, Page, Ross and Mr. Thomas of Otira ; Starter, Foreman D. McKendrey (Westport) ; Protest Committee, Secretary Walton, Capt. Coxall and Foreman White.

The draw for the Demonstration resulted as follows: —

One man dry: Otira, Cobden, Westport, Hokitika. Two men wet (A team name first, B teams carry on in same order) : Grey, Kumara, Otira, Westport, Hokitika, Cobden. Three men wet: Hokitika, Cobden, Otira, Kumara,, Westport, Grey. Bin same order.

Five men flat: Hokitika, Cobden, Kumara, Westport, Grey, Otira. Bin same order.

Five men reel: Hokitika, Cobden, Westport, Grey, Kumara, Otira. A grant of £3 3/- was made to Secretary Walton for his services during the past twelve months. Officers elected tfor the ensuing twelve months were :—President, Capt. Gilmour (Cobden); Vice-Presidents, Foreman Williams (Hokitika), Lieut. McEnaney (Kumara), Lieut. Cohen (Otira ); Secretary, J. Walton (reelected) ; Treasurer, Supt. Deere; Trustee, Deputy-Supt. White. It was decided to purchase six 50-feet lengths of hose.

DEMONSTRATION RESULTS Unfavourable weather marred the Demonstration work, the ground proving slippery and wet, and a big handicap to the men. Following were the results: — One man (dry), Browning Memorial, four teams competed : Hokitika 78 sec, Foreman Williams; Cobden 84, 2; Westport 85 4-5 (including 6 sec penalty) 3; Otira, blow out. Foreman Williams, winner of this event was the oldest Brigadesman competing at the competition. Hose and standpipe event (wet), two men, Rose Cup, twelve teams competed : Grey 2, Kumara 2, Otira 2, Westport 2, Hokitika 2, Cobden 2. Grey won in 40 sec; Otira A. team 2, 41 sec; Otira 83, 41 2-5. Grey team, Grant and Molloy, won gold medals and Rose Bowl.

Three men disabled hose event (wet), eleven teams competed, Otira B team winning in the smart time of 47 4-5 sec; Hokitika 2, 49 2-5 sec; Cobden 3, 52 1-5 sec. Otira B team (Wearn, Cohen and Turvey). Five men and standpipe, Benyon Memorial. Six teams competed, Hoki tika winning in the smart time of 29 3-5 sec. Hokitika team (Steel, Wickes, Williams, Ross and Thompson). At the finish of the last run in the event by Otira an air lock occurred, and resulted in a burst main, which necessitated finishing the Demonstration, and the five men reel event had to be abandoned, the Committee deciding to divide the prize money evenly between the six teams nominated. On Saturday evening a smoke concert was held, when a splendid programme of musical and vocal items was given. Captain Morris of the Otira Brigade presided, and the programme was’ as follows : —Recitation, Mr. Pike; toast, “The U.D.8.A.,” Supt. A. White; reply, Past President J. Walton ; recitation,’ J. Johnston; 1 musical monologue, Mr. Wearne.; toast, “West Coast Fire Brigades’ Association, Fireman Ross; reply, Capt. Gilmour; solo on bones, A. White; “Visiting Firemen’’,. Lieut. Cohen* reply: White (Grey), Ross (Hokitika), McEnaney (Kumara), Gilmour (Cobden); songs, “Boy of Mine” and “Ramona,” W. Fraser; toast, “Judges and Timekeepers,” Mr. Morris; reply, Judges,'etc;- violin solo, -Mr. Brown. Presentation of shields, cups and medale. i The Russell Challenge Shield was

.won. Hokitika, the points being: Hokitika 39, Cobden 36, Greymouth 26, Otira 20, Westport 14. Trophies are ’to be- returned one month before any Demonstration.