UNITED FIRE BRIGADES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18803, 5 March 1923, Page 6

UNITED FIRE BRIGADES

BIKN NIAL (COMPETITIONS. llie bionninl com petitions hold l)y llio United Fire Brigades' Association of New Zealand were commenced on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday. 'J ho conditions, us far as weather was concerned, were most, unfavourable. A lot of ruin fell during the night, ami though the- weather was dry when the day's proceedings wore commenced the prospects for a continuance of hUch conditions were not As a matter of fact niin set in again during tho morning, and after midday it, act in heavily, continuing: all tho afternoon. The. ground was heavy at tho start, and as the day wore on it became considerably worse. Ihe conditions prevailing did not seem to have ajiy effect on the enthusiasm of tho firemen, who are quite used to working under disadvantageous circumstances, but they had a material effect on the attendance, which was, however, quite, as good as could be expected on such a day. The entries aro very large, and though no time was lost in getting the competitions oil: it was close on 7 o'clock when the last result was arrived at. Nothing like as much of the programme as arranged was got through owing to tho very largo number of entries. Neither tho four men reel nor the five men coil event was entered upon. Tho Dunedin Demonstration Committee had all tho arrangoinent.3 well in hand, and everything worked very smoothly. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Minister of Internal Affairs) wag present, and took a keen interest in tho proceedings up to the time he left to catch tho second express for the north. Following were the officials :--Ileferees: P. Deero (Greymouth), \V. Juriss (Christchurch). Judges: It. Ilean (Addington Railway), A. Bumbery (Christchurch Railway), J. Arm it (Dunedin), W. Cormaek (Dunedin), J'. Sutherland (Dunedin), L. Wnllis (t)unedin), P. Williams (Dunedin), R. Benton (Lyttelton), 0. Baker (Timaru), T. Thomson (Timaru), J. Waldie (Timaru), A. Wallis (Gore). Diso judges: W. G. Carson (Lyttelton), R. Haigh (Dunedin). Examiners: W. Blagdon (Dunedin), J. G. Walton (Greymouth), G. M'Grcgor (Kaiapoi), J. J. Doran (Lower Hutt), J. A. Burrows (Spit), S. J. Trevalla (Timaru Railway), R. J. Hinkloy (Oamaru). H. S. Willelts (Waimate), W. Chappell (Waipukurau). Starters : Ex-Lieutenant W. Johnson, Captain J. Williams, Ex-Fireman P. Brady. Ground marshal: Superintendent J. Carter. Field secretary: Foreman Wilson. Press board stowarus: Messrs 'lelfer, Ityall, and Hill. Clerks of scales: Mr Gallaghor, Ex-Foreman J. Carrington. limekoopers: Messrs P. Brady, f. Long, J. Armit, H Archer. G. Porter, Foreman K. H. Price, Ex-Captain D. M. Wildey. The opening events were tho two men coupling, in'which there were 56 competitors, tho hose and hydrant (wet), in which some 52 toanris faced tho iudges, and the disabled event (five men), which produced 28 teams. Theso competitions were not completed until late in the day. In the afternoon tho rescue event (one man) was disposed of. There were 21 competitors m this event. Tho drop-shutter discs, which were invented by Superintendent Carson, of the Lyttelton Brigade, and which were usert for the first time in a U.F.B.A. demonstration at Napier in 1921, were again in use, and appeared to give every satisfaction, 'the following are tho results:— DISABLED EVENT-FIVE MEN. Five men to run 10yds, pick up reel, run 40yds with reel to plug, run out 50ft of hose, break coupling, fix branch, and strike disc with water; disconnect branch, run out and connect ICOft hose, fix branch, and strike diso with water; return with reel to within syds of first coupling, insert union, and run out another 100 ft hose, fix branch, and strike discs with bath waters; lloturn with reel to within syd3 of plug, run out 50ft of hose, and replace first from hvdrant, strike discs with water as before; knot to be tied in femalo end of disable length. Reel to carry 350 ft hose., two branches, union, and hydrant. Hoso not to be taken off reel until passing mark. 10 yds in rear of plug. First prize, £2O; second, £ls; third, £10; fourth, £5; fifth, £5; sixth, £5. Actual Penal- ltcsult time. tic-s. time. ■ Sec Sec. Sec. Thames 33 Hillside Railway 86 1-5 Alexandra ... &7 4-5 Grevmouth ... 89 2-5 - 89 2-5 4 Waihi 90 1-5 1 91 1-5 5 Onehunga ... 92 3-5 Tho fallowing also competed, tho penaltics (in p&rontnesos) and the result- time being given: -Devonport, 94 3-ssoc: Te Kiiili. 94 4-sseo; luveroaa-giiJ, 95 4-ssee; Dannevirke. 96 4-s?ec; Mastorton, 99 l-ssec; Taumarunui, 99 2-ssec; Green Lane, lOOsec; Carterton, 100 2-ssec; Addington Railway, (2seJ), 103 3-&9C; Oamaru, 104 4-ssec; Raetihi, 107 2-ssec; Newmarket Railway (3soc), Ussec; Hokitika, 116 2-ssec; Taihape, 117 l-ssoc; Quoenstown, 117 2-ssec; Sumner, 118 2-ssec; Nelson, 119 l-ssec; Reef ton, disqualified; Morrinsville, disqualified; Milton, disqualified; Dargaville, disqualified ; Dermis ton, disqualified. COUPLING EVENT—TWO MEN. Two men to run 25yds from rear of plug, fix hydrant, break two couplings connected to two short lengths, connect each 50ft length to hydrant, connect union to each 50ft length, then 50ft hose to each delivery of union, fix four brandies, and finish 4yds in front of branches. Hydrant to be lying alongside of plug; hose, union, and branches to be laid out; ono delivery of hydrant and each union to be capped. Two outside lengths from union to be connected to 50ft lengths from each side of hydrant. Time taken when la.st man crosses 4yds mark. First prize, £8; second. £6; third, £4; fourth, £2; fifth, £2; sixth, £2; sevonth, £2. New Brighton, 38secs 1 Hillside Railway, 40 3-sseo 2 Addington Railway, 42sec ' „ 3 Devonport, 42 2-ssec 4 Carterton, 46 3-ssos 5 Patea, 47sec 6 St. Kilda and Alexandra (a tie). 47 2-ssec 7 Tho following also competed, the penalties (in parentheses) and result times being shown :—Dannevirke, 48sec; Green Lane (lsec), 48 3-ssec; Onehunga., 49.*ec; Pukokohe, 49 4-58ec; Taihape (2seo), 50sec; Cambridge, 50sec; Sumner, 50soc; Waihi 50 3-5 seo; Invercarglll Railway Yvorkshops, 51seo; Newmarket. 51sce; Milton, 51 i-ssoc; Whangarei. 51 4-ssec; Newmarket Railway, 51 4-ssec; Raetihi, (lsec), 52 2-sseo; Denniston, 53soc; Tauranga, 53sec; Thames, 54sec; Eastown Railway, 54 2-ssee: Geraldine, 54 4-ssoc: Mount, Eden, 55sec; Invorcargill, 55see.: Dunedin Railway, 55 2-ssee; Reef ton, 56soc; Manunui. 56sec:' Oamaru. 56 4-sseo; Te Aroha, 57sec; Greymouth, 58sec: Nelson 58=ee; Dargaville, oSsoo; Ross, 58 l-ssec; Taumarunui, 58 2-ssec: Hokitika, 60sec; ißotoma, 61 3-ssoc; Lovin, 62 2-ssec: Northcoto 63scc; Napier Railway, 63sec; Christchurch Railway, 64sec; Akaroa, 64seo; Blonheim, 64 3-ssec; Kaiapoi. 66 2-ssec; Te Awamutu, 6/see; Mount Albert, 69scc; Queenstown, 69 4-5-sec: Avondale. lOlsec; Morrinsville (did not finish). Alexandra and St. Kilda decided to divide the seventh prize. HOSE AND HYDRANT (wet)—Three Men Dressing. Men dressed in shirt and trousers, with cover, to bo lying on a stretcher 30yds in reir of plug. At signal from starter, to get tip and dress, run syds, pick up three 50ft coils wet hose properly strapped; hydrant and branch to bo detached and lying on the ground; run 25yds to ping, fix hydrant, connect, and run out three 50ft lengths of hose, fix branch, and strike disc. First prize, £10: second, £7; third, £5; fourth, £2; fifth, £2; sixth, £2; seventh, £2. Actual Penal- Result time. ties. time. .See. See. Hillside Railway 46 0 46 1 St. Kilda 50 0 50 2 Addington Rlway 50 2-5 0 50 2-5 3 Dannevirko ... 49 3-5 1 503-5 4 I Green Lano ... 514-5 0 514-5 5 Maslerton 52 0 52 6 Onehunga 523-5 2 54 3-5 7 The following also competed, tho penalties (in parentheses) and result times being given:—Whangarei (Lsec), 54 4-ssec; New Brighton, 54 4-sscc; Tamnarunui. 54 4-sseo; Carterton, 55 2-ssec; Patea (lsec), 57sec ; Dargaville. 57 3-ssec; Napier Railway, 58 2-ssec; Oamaru, 59 4-s:seo; Sumner (2secl, 61sec; Invorcargill Railway Workshops (3sec), | 61 2-srico; Taihape, 61 2-oseo: Raetihi (If-ec), 64 2nssee; Devonport (ssec), 64 4-ssec; ITolritika (6see), 68 4-ssec; To Kuiti (2sec), 69 2-E-sec; Manumii, TO 2-sscc; Dunedin Railway. 70 3-s?ec; Milton (3seci 71 2-ssec; Newmarket Railway (lOsoc), 71 4-ssec; Northoote, 71 4-ssee- Cambridge (3src), 73 l-sseo: Alexandra (4sec), 73 l-ssec>; To Awamutu (4*ee), -74 3-sseo; Mount Albert. 74 4-ssec; Thames (lieu). 75 2-ssec; Mount Eden (2soc), 75 3-sf©e; Nelson (4?ec), 76 2-s?ee; Rotorua, 77 2-ssec; Waihi (13soc). 79 2-saec: Denroston (9seo), 79 3-s?ec; Blenheim, 80seo • Ensrown Railway (7.sec), 81''ec; Chriatdiufch Railway (Bsec), 83seo; Grey mouth, 83soc; Tauranga (12aec),

83 3-Ssec; To Aroha. 92sec; Fox ton, 94 4-ssoc; Morrinsville. 95 4-ssec; Avondale, 98 2-ssoc; Invercargill (did not finish). The Hillside Railway team's run was a splendid clean one. This is the team mat won the championship at the Napier demonstration in 1921, and are the present holders of the association shield. RESCUE EVENT—ONE MAN. One man to start 25 yards from platform, run to ladder, ascend, and bring down dummy 6sl weight (dummy to be carried across one or both shoiddcrs. head upright), and cross line 5 yards from foot of ladder. Allowing dummy to touch the ground will cause disqualification ; windowopening to he 6ft 7in x 3ft 4in, sill 2ft above platform, front to ho boarded up. If advisable, this event to be run in pairs against time; each competitor’s time to he taken. Ladder attached to platform at top. First prize, £8; second, £6; third, £4; fourth, £2; fifth, £2; sixth, £2; seventh. £2. To Kuiti. 27seo 1 Hillside Railway. 28scc 2 Onehunga, 28 3-ssec ». 3 Patea, 29 3-ssec 4 Oama.ru, 29 3-ssec 5 Thames, 30sec 6 Christchurch Railway, 50scc 7 Also competed: Mastorton, 30 2 ; saao; Devon port, 31sec; Dunedin Railway, 33 l-ssec; Blenheim, 33 l-ssec; Hokitika, 33 4-Secc; Greymouth, 34secj Waihi, 37 l-ssec; Napier Railway, 42sec; Tmimarunui, 42 l-ssec; Milton, 43 l-ssec; Manunui, 45soc; Dargaville, 51 4-sseo; Christchurch Citv, Levin, and Addington Railway disqualified. There were 37 entries. Te Kuiti. Hillside Railway, and Onehunga were at once placed, but 'there was a tie between Oamam and Patea. and as it was getting late the toss of a coin decided fourth and fifth places. Thames and Christchurch Railway tied for sixth and seventh, and in a deciding competition Thames won. SHIELD POINTS. The shield points gained by the leading teams so far are as follows: AGGREGATE SHIELD (All events except 3 and 11). Hillside Railway 36 Thames ’ 20 Addington Railway 13 Alexandra. 12 HIGH PRESSURE SHIELD (Events 4,5, 6,7, 8,9, and 10). Hillside Railway 28 Thames 20 Alexandra 12 St. Kilda 9 MANUAL SHIELD (Events 1,2, 4,5, and 6). Hillside Railway 20 Addington Railway 13 New Brighton 9 St. Kilda 9 The Merryweather Shield will be awarded to the team scoring most points in No. 9 event, and the Simplex Shield to the team securing most points in No. 8 event. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. The competitions will be continued at 9 a.m. to-day, when the following events will be started:—Gilberd Memorial one man coupling, the boso, real, and ladder, and the live men coil (dressing). The entries in all these events are largo, and some keen competition should be witnessed during the day. Another demonstration will be given with the Dennis pump at (he Central Fire Station at 7.30 this evening.

CHURCH PARADE. A united Church parade was held yesterday morning, the firemen attending St. Paul’s Cathedral, First Church, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The men mustered at tfie Central Fire Station, close on 500 being on parade. After the roll had been called the procession moved off, headed by the Highland Pipe Band, and further back by the 3rd Artillery Band. The men marched in column of two, and made a fine display. It was one of the largest, if not the largest, gathering of firemen over seen together in Now Zealand. Some idea of the length of the procession may be gained from the fact that the Highland Band entered the Octagon when the last files turned from Hanover street into George street. The route followed was along Cumberland street, into Frederick street, past the Hospital, through Hanover street, and then along George street. Appropriate selections were played by the bands throughout the march. The procession was watched by a large crowd of citizens, especially at the Octagon. Impressive sermons were preached by the officiating clergymen at each church. At the conclusion of the service the firemen marched back to the Central Station, where they were dismissed. At, First Church the Rev. G. H. Balfour, in extending a welcome to the large number of firemen present, said: “We wish you every success in your gatherings in Dunedin, and hope you will have a very pleasant time amongst us. We appreciate the groat work yon are doing for the community, both ia the saving of life and properly. Wo also recognise that your calling is a dangerous one, and often men ns _ sacrifice. and calls for true heroism. Wo are indeed pleased you recognise, in the midst of your conferences and displays, that a place should bo kept for worship; for our relation to Got! is the central one, and it is only if we are right with Him that other things can be right also. We pray that the Divine blessing may Iso upon you all.” HARBOUR EXCURSION. In the afternoon tire visiting and local firemen, with their wives and friends, wore taken for an excursion down the harbour. The weather was most favourable for such an outing, which was greatly enjoyed by all who participated. The ferry steamer Waikana was chartered for the occasion, a,ncl the boat loft the wharf punctually at 2.30 p.m.. and proceeded to The Spit. The Kaikorai Band was in attendance, and played a programme of selections which greatly added to the pleasure of the outing. Over 600 made the trip. The boat returned to Dunedin wharf shortly after 5 p.m.