FIRE BRIGADE COMPETITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7342, 5 December 1884, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADE COMPETITION.

A fire brigade competition took place fa Peatherston-street on Tuesday afternoon between teams representing the Wellington and Mauterton Brigades. Tile contest, which resulted in a tolerably easy win for the local men, was witnessed by a largo number of people, and the greatest interest was evinced throughout. The Mayor, Mr Geo. Pisher, M.H.8., officiated as judge; Mr Boardman, of the Sooth British Insurance Company, as starter; and Mr Uislbp, .as timekeeper. The names of the Masterton team, who wore under the command of Captain Kcester, have already been published, and tho local brigade were represented by the followjng‘mc,ohefs : —Messrs Lawrence, Parsonage, White, Woolcott, Furness, M. Renuedy, Murray, and Tetley. Superintendent Whiteford was pro-’ sent on behalf of the Wellington team. The first competition was in “ diy practice,’! which consisted of running the engine 10Q yards, running out the hose, one} pippping tbie« strokes. The visitors'first essayed the I ask, and made it in disecs. There was, however, a bitch about the performance, the coil having got underneath one of the engine wheels. On flip return journey, which included packing the hose aud Imping tho engine round, their time was fiO 3-10 sec. It should be stated that Mr Uislop gave the time as 60 2-Bsec f but a mistake having been made in the dropping of the 6'g which announced arrival at the winning post, thp time, as taken by ifr Whiteford, was made COJsec. The Wellington men followed, and in the running oot made tho somewhat marvellous record of 28 3-10 sec ; packing up and returning, howprer, they v re G.'ijaec, ro that each side sq far had out iu J one. The wet practice which followed was the same as the »r

dry practice, except that on the hose being run out, water had to bo pumped over the telegraph wires. The time made by Masterton, who led off again, was 62*cc, and the Wellington representatives managed to do it in 60J a ec, or a second and a half faster. The Masterton captain protested at ibis part of the contest, on the ground—and apparently an admissible one—that the Wellington time bad been taken before the water was thrown over the wires. Nothing was done In the matter, although it appeared evident to many spectators tbat the jet did not go,fairly over the wires. In the hose and reel (wet) practice the Masterton men were all abroad) their acquaintance with the hydrant Ixjing manifestly i-m dl. The time made by the Wellington men was 51 sec, and by the visitors Wellington thus won by 3 points to 1. The form shown by both teams was first-class, aed doabtlets that 28 3-10eec will long remain green in the memory of the H&Btertoniaps, * SuhFcquenttqthe contest tbg teams met at the Fire Brigade Station in Panama-street, where the 'customary cheers were given by both sides. • A eupper was given at tho Fire Brigade Hall, Manners-street, in the evening,' when over, thirty members of the two brigades sat down‘lq tahte. Ip the ’earlier part of the evening Mr George Fisher, the Mayor, occupied th t e chair, but had to bave early in the evening on account of indisposition, bis place being taken by Superintendent Whiteford. After the usual loyal toast*, Superintendent Wbiteford proposed the Wellington Municipal Connell, which was responded to by bia Worship the Mayor. Healths of the Wellington and Masterton Fire Brigades, the judge, timekeeper, and starter, the insurance companies the caterer (Mr Macdonald), the chairman, and the other usual toasts were then proposed and drunk. Numerous songs and recitations kent the gallant firemen united outif a late hoi^