FIRE BRIGADES

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1944, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES

• —o WEST COAST DEMONSTRATION. The annual demonstration of the West Coast Fire Brigades’ Association was held on Saturday at Cass Square, Hokitika, there being a gobd attendance of spectators, though the ground was holding after heavy rain Ten teams . were present from all parts of the Coast. Hokitika team won four of the six events, and also the Grogan Shield, and the Aggregate Shield, while Fireman M. Davidson and Fireman J. Rutland, winners of the two-man event, received gold medals presented by- the Mayor of Hokitika, Mr A. R. Elcock, and Mr W. Radford (Manager-of the Rimu Gold Dredging Coy.). Kumara won two events and won the Thompson Shield. Following were the results: —Fourmen motor (dry)—Kumara 31 4-5 sec, 1; Reef ton 35sec, 2; Runanga 35 1-5 sec, 3. Runanga and Reefton each incurred a penalty of 3 seconds. Also competed: Westport 58 4-5 (including penalty 27 sec), Granity 38.(pen. 6 sec), Cobden 36 2-5 (pen. 3 sec), Greymouth (disqualified), Otira (disqualified), Grey Railway 46 sec.(pen. 10 sec), Hokitika 38 sec (pen. 9 sec). Two-men hose and pipe event: — Hokitika 36 sec 1; Westport 36 1-5 sec, 2; Kumara 39 4-5 sec, 3. Also competed: Cobden (blown out), Runanga 46 1-5 (pen. 3 sec), Grey Railway 59 3-5 (pen. 9), Reef ton 49 4-5 (pen. 8), Otira' 56 3-5 (pen. 8), Granity 57 sec (■pen. 3), Greyimouth 42 4-5. Four-men pump:—Kumara 77 3-5 sec, 1; Hokitika 80 sec, 2; Cobden 81 2-5 sec, 3. Also competed: Runanga 95 3-5 sec (pen. 15), Greymouth .95 2-5 sec (pen. 2), Reefton 87 3-5 (pen. 15). Otira, Westport and Grey Railway teams were disqualified.

Four-men motor: —Hokitika' 46 4-5 sec/ 1; Cobden 47 4-5 sec, 2; Reefton 51 2-5 sec (pen. 5), 3. Also competed: Westport 68 (pen. 10), Kumara 52 1-5 sec (pen. 2), Otira 62 4-5 sec (pen. 5),. Runanga 64 4-5 sec (pen. 13). Grey Railway was disqualified. Four-men hose and standpipe:—• Hokitika 40 1-5 sec, 1; Greymouth 42 sec, 2; Runanga 42 1-5, 3. Also competed: Cobden 42 4-5, Reefton 45, Otira 44 4-5 (pen. 8), Westport 47 1-5 (pen. 3), Granity 52 4-5. Kumara and Grey Railway, no test. Three-men disabled:—Hokitika 45 1-5 sec, 1; Reefton 47 4-5, 2; Greymouth 51 1-5, 3. Also competed' Otira 55 2-5, Granity 60 (pen. 3), Westport 55 (pen. 6), Kumara 65, Runanga 63 4-5. The following were the aggregate points:—Hokitika 69, Kumara 44*, Reef ton 43, Cobden 40, Greymouth 33*, Runanga 25b, Westport 11, Otira 85, Granity 5. At the annual conference of the Association the following officers were elected: President, Deputy Superintendent C. B. Preston (Hokitika); Vice-Presidents: Motorman F. McEna’ney (Grey), Secretary Newcombe (Reeftbn), Deputy-Superintendent W. Phipps (Westport); Secretary, J. G. Walton (Greymouth); Trustee, Superintendent A. White (Greymouth). It was decided to hold the next conference and demonstration at Greymouth in November, 1945. The annual report was adopted. At the Soldier’s Hall on Saturday evening, Superintendent L. L. Ross presided over a‘ large gathering of firemen and guests, including Messrs A. R. Elcock (Mayor), C. Calianr (Deputy; Mayor), W. A. Parfitt (Chairman of the Grey Fire Board). H. C. Peart -■(■Hokitika Fire Board),. S’. Roberts and Us- Havill (Hokitika’ Borough Council). ‘-s.J’’ Elcock paid a tribute to the fireipen''generally, and to the Hokitika Brigade, J. G. Walton, the veteran also came in for a tribute. Va'riotfi toasts were honoured, and all spent an enjoyable evening. Visiting firemen left Hokitika yesterday morning on their return journey.