TARANAKI, FIRE-FIGHTERS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 April 1927, Page 10

TARANAKI, FIRE-FIGHTERS

PROVINCIAL CONTESTS. HAWERA WINS DISTRICT SHIELD. Fire lightens ironi all parts of the province were in attendance at Stra-t----xord yesterday for the biennial demonstrations of the Taranaki District United Fire -Brigades 1 Association TToceedings commenced promptly at 9 o’clock in tine but rather cold weather, with a sharp breeze blowing. There were a narge iium-our of competitors, and a fair sprinkling of spectators. ‘The grounds were in good order, and adequate arrangements for the stoeeissful conduct of the gathering Were made, for which much credit is due to the association officers and the Stmtford brigade. Competition was keen, and the times recorded were ilise.

Good, prizes ere offered for the contestants placed first second and third respectively in the various events, while particularly keen interest "as taken m the progress of resuits for the District Shield, which goes to the brigade securing the highest aggregate points. Shied points of \ a tying value, according to the partic ilar event were awarded to the six A teams placed in order, but could not be claimed bv B teams. Patea were .he winners of the shield at the last demonstration. . After the conclusion o- the <se. end event the Kaponga- A team \olun.;>rilv withdrew from the remaining competitions. , , The Hawera Brigade, the representative of which included three of tiro Dominion champion team, was eminently successful, and with a tally of 93 •* points took the shield from Patea. Ihe order of points gained by other competitors were >as follows: Stratford 86, Eltham oil, Patea. 474. Manaia 21, Inglewood 20, Waitara 14. Previous winners of the trophy are: Fitzroy (1912 and 1914), Stratford (1920), Hawera (1922), Patea (1924). A challenge shield, for competition confined to the Stratford and Eltham brigades was won by the latter. Past President Aitkin presented the shields and cash prizes to winners during the course of the evening entertainment. The results were :

Two men modern (wet).—-Hawera A (Deputy-Superintendent P. Grace and Fireman. J. Zinsli), 44secs., 1; Havera B (Firemen Hart and Seagsr), sfLet>:., 2: Patea A (Superintendent O. C'-arey and Fireman W. Willis), 53 4-ssec., 3. Nine teams competed. Two, men coupling.— Hawera A, 36 4-ssecs.. 1: Hawera B. 37secs. (including 2sec„s nenalty), 2; Eitham A (l‘iremen A. Cooper and L. Nees). 38 4-5 secs., 3. Fourteen teams competed. Three-men event (wet). —Manaia A. (Firemen Reardon, Jeromson and Rove) 31 2-ssec., 1; Stratford R. (Firemen (Brocklebank. Fawcett and Cumings). 22r-ec., 2; Hawera A. 33sec.. 3. Twelve teams competed.

Four-men event (wet). —Stratford (Brocklebank, E. Brocklebank. Davis, and Faucett) 45 4-ssec., 1; Hawera, 48 l-ssec., 2; Patea, 54sec., 3. Four teams competed. Three-meu event, second competition (wet). —Stratford A. (Firemen Brocklebank, Davis and E. Brocklebank), 52 2-ssec., 1; Hawera A, 54sec., 2; Hawera B (Mcßeth, Kelson and Seagar), Olscc., 3. Seven teams competed. Rescue event, two men.—Hawera A. (Grace and Hart), 23 4-ssee., 1; Stratford A. (E. Brocklebank and G. Brocklebank) , 27sec., 2; Hawera B. (Zinsli and Seagar), 28&ec., 3. Five teams comypeted. Five men, modern reel hose and ladder. —Hawera (Grace, Hart, Zinsli, Kelson and Seagar), 614-ssec., 1; Stratford (Brocklebank, Brocklebank, Cumings, Davis, and Fawcett). 69sec., 2; Eltham (Julian, Page, Doyle, Nees and Cooper), 74 l-ssec.. 3. Patea also competed. Five men, hose, hydrant and reel. — Stratford. 31 2-ssec., 1; Hawera 331-5 secs., 2; Patea, 3S 3-ssec. 3. Also competed : Eltham and Inglewood. THE EVENING SOCIAL. Visiting firemen were entertained at a social by the Stratford Brigade in the evening, the function being held in the fire .station hall. The Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. W. McMillan) occupied the chair and was supported by Councillors C. R. Fdnnerty T. Lawson and S. A. Ward, the past president of the association (secretary P. T. Aitkin), Superintendent T. G v Grubb, and executive officers. In a brief address the chairman cordially welcomed the visitors, and proposed “The King”—a prelude to a lengthy toast list, comprising: “The United F.B.A. (the chairman —H. A. Nuttall); “The Taranaki U.F.8.A.” (Mr. P‘. Si Finlayson—Past President P. T. Aitkin); “Local Bodies”. (Superintendent Grubb—The Mayors of Patea and Stratford, and Councillors); “Demonstration Officials” (Councillor Ward—Foreman. Hartley. Taihape, and Mr. D. G. Malone); “Stratford Fire Brigade” (Mr. Stuart Dunbar—'Superintendent Grubb); “The Visitors” (Mr P. Skoglund—Superintendent's Crossman, Inglewood, and White, Manaia). In responding to the toast of “Dem - onstration Officials,” Mr. Malone said he considered it an honour to be permitted to assist the association in the conduct of its big undertaking, the public importance of which warranted a. greater measure of support from townspeople than had been accorded. The chairman acknowledged Superintendent Grubb’s compliment in stating that his brigade was well satisfied to be controlled by the borough council. In the course of a response, Superintendent Nuttall (EUtham) said that in its fifteen years of existence ’ the U. had increased its control of 14 brigades to 136 brigades, which included 3000 firemen.

During the evening a programme of vocal numbers was contributed by Firemen Seagar and Warner (Hawera); secretaries Ait-ken (Stratford) and Burroughs (Eltham) ; Captain Carey (Patea) ; and Messrs J. Walker, H. W. Douglas and L. Wilson (Stratford). Mr P. S. Finlayson was the accompanist. The singing of "Auld Lang Sync” provided the finale to the day’s activities.