FIRE BRIGADES' COMPETITION,

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5324, 7 March 1879, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADES' COMPETITION,

Notwithstanding the steady downpour of rain that had been falling all the morning, the competition between the Spit and Napier brigades came off yesterday, with the following results : — First Event. — Teams of eight — Ist, Town Brigade with small manual engine, time Gosec ; 2nd, Spit Brigade with small manual engine, time 74sec ; 3rd, Spit Brigade with large manual engine, time GSsec ; 4th, Town Brigade with large manual engine, time 63sec ; sth, Spit Brigade with hose-reel, time 58scc ; 6th, Town Brigade Avith hose-reel, time 65sec. The aggregate of the times gives the Spit 3min 2~osec, and tho Town 3rain 13sec; tho Town Brigade winning by 7sec. Prizes — Union Insurance Company's silver cup, eight silver bars and £4 money. Second Event. — Single-handed small and large manual engines by three men of each brigade, one of each alternately: — Small raanuel engine : S. G. Strange (Town), Imin 50sec ; Guilliard (Spit), linin 52sec ; G. Holland (Town), Imin I 4Qsec ; J. Northe (Spit), Imin 42£ se c; J. G. Gilberd (Town), Imin 41sec ; Taylor (Spit), Iniin4B3ec. Aggregate times —Spit, smin 22-isee ; Town, smin llsec. Long manual engine— J. Northe (Spit), Imin 42isec; J. G. Gilberd (Town), Imin 31^sec; Gnilliard (Spit), Imin 48sec ; Sirange (Town), Imin 46|sec ; Taylor (Spit), Imin 34aec ; Holland (Town), Imin 42sec. Aggregate timesSpit, smin 4^sec ; Town, smin ; the Town Brigade thua winning by ll^sec on small manual, and 4jsec on large manual, in all by 16sec. Prizes— New Zealand Insurance Company's trophy, team prize. Gilberd (Town), first prize, silver medal. Holland (Town) and Taylor (Spit) tied for seconJ prize, silver medal. Third prize, pair of lustres, presented by Mr Large. Third Event. — Representative fours, t^yo teams from each brigade, with hose-

reeland ladder. Ist, Spit Team. This team made a capital run up, but owing to turning on the water too soon were unable', to get through. 2nd, Town Team ; time," 57sec. 3rd, Spifc Team. This team also' failed to get through, owing to turning on the water too soon. 4th, Towii-Brigade, 51 sec. The second fours of the Town Brigade, consisting of Foreman Gilberd, Foreman Strange, and Firemen Holland "j and Hartley, were the winners. Prizes : Mayor's cup and Mr L. Harris's four cups. The Firemen's Race did not come off owing to the state of the roads and the lateness of the hour.

A goodly number of persons witnessed the competition, but no doubt had the weather been more promising there would have been a much 1-rger attendance. At the close of the proceedings a member of the brigade mounted the engine and called for three cheers for the business people that had closed at noon. This was neertily responded to, but not ' more heartily than the proposition that followed, viz., three groans for those that were opposed to it, and kept open their places of business until four o'clock.

After the competition the Napier Brigade proceeded to the Spit for the purpose of taking part in the christening of the Spit Brigade engine. Miss Young performed the ceremony, and in the orthodox fashion, a bottle of champagne having been broken, she named the engine the "Spit Fire." At the finish the Napier Brigade Band played a few bars of " God Save the Queen," and then both Brigades marched round the Spit. On returning, an adjournment was made to the school-room, where both brigades and some friends partook of a dinner provided for the occasion by Mr Bell, of the Orown Hotel. Mr F. Sutton, M.H.R., occupied the chair, and Major Routledge the vicechair. A number of toasts were drunk and suitably responded to-. In the course of the evening Dr. Tennent said he would give a handsome prize for the next competition. Major Eoutledge promised to endeavor to procure a ladies' prize. Mr Banner said the Union Company would repeat their prize. Mr L. Campbell, on the part of the New Zealand Company, could safely say that the company would not be backward in the matter. Mr Harris hoped that next year he would be able to give a much better prize than he had given on this occasion.