FIRE BRIGADES

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1935, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADES

DEMONSTRATION RESULTS

WEST COASTERS’ PROSPECTS

(per press association.]

BLENHEIM, February 27.

The United Fire Brigades’ Association’s demonstration, an event for which brigadesmen all over the Dominion have been zealously training for the best part of a year, opened this morning. After a cool night, the weather was brilliant when the proceedings were got under way after nine o’clock, but later in the morning, the sky became partially clouded over and a steady easterly breeze kept the conditions temperate. This demonstration is the first national fixture held since 1929, and more th?m ordinary interest centres in it on account of the probable rise in the interval of new champions in'different departments of the fire service work.

The proceedings opened with the one-man dry .coupling event, which is the memorial to Secretary Gilberd, who served the U.F.B.A. in a secretarial capacity for a number of years. There were 45 competitors. Hastings, represented by Fireman N. Muir, did the excellent time of 51 l-ssec. Rotorua. (Fireman F. Stewart) was second; Carterton (Fireman H. Watson) was third; Hawera (Fireman E. A. Hart) fourth; Petone (Fireman A. Shardlow) fifth; and Otorohanga (Fireman C. Knox) sixth. The first three men broke the previous New Zealand record of 55sec., set up at Hokitika; but the event this year is somewhat different, and times cannot be quite fairly compared, as at Hokitika the hose was in the coil, and on this occasion it was "on the bight"—a quicker method. Nevertheless, the work was regarded as excellent in the case of the placed men. Results: — GILBERD MEMORIAL. Hastings, £1 l-ssec, 6 Shield points 1 Rotorua, 52 4-ssec., 5 pts .. .. 2 Carterton, 53secs., 4pts .... • • 3 Hawera, 57 2-ssec., 3pts 4 Petone, 58sec., 2 pts .. 5 Otorohanga, 59sec., 1 pt 6 Also started: Waipukurau, Lower Hutt, Hokitika, Birkenhead, Mosgiel, Cobden, Hanmer Springs, Featherston, Kaponga, Blenheim, Morrinsville, Foxton, Cambridge, Gore/ Kumara, Te Awamutu, Patea, Ashburton, Oamaru, Northcote, Te Kuiti, Waitara, Matamata, Geraldine, Waimate, New Brighton, Lyttelton, Nelson, Tapanui, Raetihi, Devonport, Dannevirke. In the five men hose, reel and ladder (modern) event, the Carterton team, comprising H. Matson (captain), Deputy-Supt. C. J; Churchhouse, Foreman G. Steffert and Firemen J. Finn and D. Jackson were the winners. They defeated Hawera, who won at the last demonstration in 1929, and who to-day were second. Gore were third. Carterton, 45 3-ssec . 1 Hawera, 47 l-ssec 2 Gore, 49sec 3 Stratford 49 2-5 and Dannevirke, 49 2-ssec (dead heat) .. .. 4 Greymouth, 49 4-ssec 6 Also st'arted: Otorohanga, Tapanui, Waimate, Lower Hutt, Hokitika, Petone, Te Kuiti, Whangarei, Taumarunui, Waipukurau. Hastings, Dargaville, Waihi, Dannevirke, Devonport, Nelson, Te Aroha, Reefton. With two events complete, the leading championship shield points are: Carterton 24, Hawera 19, Gore 12, Stratford 7, Dannevirke 7, Hastings 6. In the unfinished two men hose and standpipe event, with half a dozen teams still to compete, the West Coast Brigades bid fair to fill the leading positions. Kumara, who did 30sec, have the leading time. They are followed by Cobden with 36 l-ssec., and next is Otira Railway with 37 1-5. Then comes Taumarunui 37 2-ssecs, and Hawera and Te Aroha each 38secs. In the three men hose and standpipe event, with instantaneous coupling, which is about half complete, Te Awamutu lead with 31 l-ssecs., followed by Otorohanga 33 3-5 and Pukekohe 34 1-5 sees.

The contests will be continued on Friday, to-morrow being devoted to a cruise in the Sounds on the ferry steamer Tamahine.