FIRE BRIGADES' COMPETITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7484, 25 February 1885, Page 3 (Supplement)

FIRE BRIGADES' COMPETITION.

DUNEDIN, Jan. 28. A series of Fire Brigade competitions commenced in Dunedin on this date. Only one event was got off between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., as the water-main leading into the Caledonian grounds burst twice, and stopped the hose practice. The event concluded was the engine practice The teams were lying down on a tent half-dressed, when the word was given. The men had to get up and dress, run 25yds, connect, and pay out, %-om one side of the engine, 50ft of hose, fix a branch, and pump water from a dam over a rope 10ft high. The result was as follows : * m. s. m. s. Timaru ... 1 30£ Nelson ..,134 Wanganui ... 1 20£ Napier ... 1 If Lyttelton ... 1 19* Spit 1 7 Christchurch 116 Dunedin ... 1 113 Invercargill 155 Rangiora ... 124 J Ashburton ... 1 50-J Roslyn ... 1 21* Kumara ... 1 15* Hokitika ... 1 23£ Grahamstown 1 19* Auckland ... 1 11 S'th Dunedin 1 29* Masterton ... 1 Hi The following, therefore, is the result: — Napier, 1; Spit, 2; Auckland, 3. A protest has been entered by the Dunedin men against the Auckland team, on the ground that they made up their hose wrongly. The Invercargill team was disqualified because they neglected to lock their fore carriage. In the hose practice the reels were on a chalk line 100 yards from the fire plugs, and the men stationed ten yards behind. At the sound of the pistol they had to run with the reel, fix the hydrant, and run out 50ft of canvas hose from- each delivery of the union, fix the branches and throw water over the rope. The following teams got through this event: — m. s. m. s. Dunedin ... 1 5f Spit... ... 1 24* Napier ... 1 11* Timaru .... 126 Grahamstown 119 Rangiora ... 128 NewPlym'th 1 22* Masterton... 1 28 Lyttelton ... 1 23* Nelson and Christchurch Railway were disqualified through some hitch. It is expected that the whole thing will be gone over again. There was a strong wind throughout the day, with an occasional shower. The attendance of the public was large, a half holiday being kept in the city. DUNEDIN, Jan. 29.

The Fire Brigades' competition was continued to-day in capital weather, but the attendance of the public was very poor. The programme is not yet through, but it is not known yet whether it will be gone on with to-morrow. Protests have arisen in numbers, and only one contest has actually been got off without a hitch. Things began badly this morning. In the engine practice competition, which was finished yesterday and won by Napier, with the Spit second, Auckland third, and Dunedin fourth, the judges disqualified Auckland on account of their joints not being spanner tight, and Dunedin for having two joints loose. Thereupon, Superintendent Hughes, of Auckland, after using language more forcible than polite about the Dunedin firemen and the judges, marched his men off the field. This example was followed by the Grahamstown men, who, however, explain that they had determined the previous night to do so, as there being not sufficient pressure of water on the ground, the competition was unfair and valueless. The hose practice competition partly gone through last night was concluded, with the result as follows:

m. s. in. s. Wanganui ... 1 4 Grahamstown 1 19 Dunedin ... 1 5$ New Plym'th 1 22$ Napier ... 1 11 Lyttelton ... 1 23 $ Port Chalmers 1 13J The Spit ... 1 24$ S'th Dunedin 1 14 Bangiora ... 1 28 Hokitika ... 1 15 Masterton ... 1 28 Timaru ... 1 17$ Ashburton ... 1 51$ Nelson, Christchurch Eailway, and Kumara were disqualified. There is a protest in this, and the judges will decide to-morrow how the prizes shall go. Curricle Engine practice. Five men to run 25 yards to engine, extend levers, connect two lengths of hose, run out two 50ft lengths of canvas hose, fix branches and throw water over a rope 10ft high:— sec. ' sec. South Dunedin 37 Dunedin ... 49 Eoslyn ... ... 45| Ashburton ... 56 The Spit ... 39$ Eangiora ... 49 Kumara ... 44| Invercargill ... 54$ Napier 45| Wanganui ... 44 Waimate ... 46$ This was the only event got off without a hitch. The prizes went in the order named, as faulty work counted against;

competitors, and Boslyn, though slow, showed clean work. Some dissatisfaction was expressed thereat. ■ • Dry Engine Practice. One man to start 20 yards from engine in full working uniform, lock fore-carriage, turn over and secure levers, connect one length hose to engine, run out 50ft canvas hose, fix branch, and stand branch in hand. Two men from each team competed in this separately. Dunedin was represented by O'Gorman, who did it in 47-if Sec, and Tattersall 54sec. In no other case so far has this time been equalled. Gulliver, one of the Eangiora men, did it in 54sec, but his colleague Grimwood took 64sec. Ewington, of Masterton, took 59Jsec j Smith, of South Dunedin, 60sec; and Boyle, of Napier, 60Jsec. Alarm and Eush. Fireman to run 25 yards to clothes, throw off private coat, put on uniform, run 200 yards to engine. __ This was won by Copeland of Wnnganui, with Campbell 'of Wanganui second, and Hounslow of Masterton third. It was competed for in heats. One competitor got lost in the crowd which spread over the ground, and in, the final, Boyle of Napier was left at the post. Jan. 30. The Fire Brigades competition was continued to-day in fine weather, but the attendance of the public was wretched, all interest having apparently vanished. Even the members of Committee did not roll up in force. The tie for second place in hose practice was run off, and at the first attempt, both men did it in 54J-sec; at the second attempt, Gulliver, of Eangiora,. did it in 50sec; and Tattersall, of Dunedin, half a second longer. Hose and Ladder Practice —Five men to run 10 yards, pick up reel, run 100 yards to fire plug, fix hydrant, run out 100 feet canvas hose, fix branch,' and-show water..' The judges awarded prizes in the following order: —Napier, 49£sec ; South Dunedin, 50£sec; Eangiora, 53£sec ; Masterton, 56sec ; Wanganui, 56$sec ; Dunedin,-. 57.-;. sec; Eoslyn, 58Jsec ; Spit, 59sec; Lyttel-f ton, 59£sec; Port Chalmers, lmin 21£eec!;> Timaru, lmin 21^sec; Hokitika, lmin Bitsec Kumara, lmin . 9|sec ; New Plymouth, lmin lljsec. Hydrant Practice—For two men to run 50 yards to plug, carrying hydrant hose and branch, fix hydrant,'run out 50 feet hose, and show water. South Dunedin, 25sec; Dunedin fNb. 2 team), 25}sec; Dunedin (No. 1 team), 25fsec. The Masterton team made the longest time, 42£sec. A 200yds foot race for firemen, was won by Davenport, of Wanganui, with Hounslow, of Masterton, second.

There was a Tug-of-war for a bridescake, and as the captain of the New Plymouth team, and fireman Graham, of Lyttelton, are about to be married, these two teams tugged for it. Lyttelton won, so Graham secured the cake.

The meeting is now concluded, and prizes were presented to-night.