THE FIRE BRIGADES' COMPETITION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3251, 26 February 1885, Page 8

THE FIRE BRIGADES' COMPETITION.

(By Texeoraph.) Dunedijt, Jan. 29. The Fire Brigades' competition ivas continued to-day m capital weather, but the attendance of the public was very popr. The programme is not yet through, but it is not known yet whether it will be gone on with to-morrow. Protests have arisen m numbers of cases, and only one contest has actually been got off withotit 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 the joints not being Bpanned 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, mayched his men off the field. This example was followed by the Qrahamstown men, who, however, explained 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, which was partly gone through last night, was concluded to-day as follows : — Wanganui lmin 4sec Dunedin lmin 6S sec Napier limn llsec Port Chalmers lmin 13£ sec South Dunedin lmin 14sec Hokitika ... ... ... lmin 15sec Timaru lmin lVJsec Grahamstown lmin 19sec New Plymouth Imin22jsec Lyttelton ... lmin 23seo Spit ... lmin 244 sec Rangiora lmin 28sec Masterton lmin 28sec Ashburton lmin sHsee Nelson, Cristchurch Railway, and Kumara were disqualified. There is a protest m this contest, and the judges will decide to-morrow how the prizes shall go. Curricle Engine Practice — Five men to run twenty-five yards to the engine, extend the levers, connect two lengths of hose, run out two 50ft lengths of canvas hose, fix branches and throw water over a rope 10ft high, resulted as follows : — South Dunedin 37sec Roslyn 45Jsec The Spit 39£ sec Kumara ... ... ... ... 44Jsec Napier ... ... ... ... 45Jsec Waimate 46:jsec Dunedin 49scc Ashburton 56sec Rangiora ... ... ... ... 49sec Invercargill 54iaec Wanganui ... 44sec Thia was the only event got off without a hitch. The prizes went m the order named. As faulty work counted against competitors, and Roslyn, though slow, showed clean work, some dissatisfaction waß expressed thereat. Dry Engine Practice — One man to start 20yds from the engine m full working uniform, lock the fore carriage, turn over and seoure the levers, connect one length of hose to the engine, run out 50ft of canvas hose, fix a branch and stand branch m hand. Two men from each team competed m this separately. Dunedin waß represented by O'Gorman, -who did it m 47-Jsecs, and Tattersall, 54secs. In no other case so far has this time been equalled. Gulliver, one of the Rangiora men did it m 64eecs, but his colleague, Grinswood, took 64secs. Ewington, of Musterton, took 59 ; ;Bccs ; Smith, of South Dunedin, 60secs ; and Boyle, of Napier, 60^aec. Alarm and Rush — Fireman to run 25 yards to his clothes, throw off his private coat, put on uniform, and run 200 yards to the engine. This was won by Copeland of Wanganui, with Campbell of Wanganni second, and Hounslow of Masterton third; It was competed m heats. Ono competitor got lost m the crowd, which spread over the ground, and m the final Boyle, of Napier, was left at the post. A dinner is taking place thia evening. Dunedin, Jan. 30. ,The Fire Brigades' competition was continued to-day m Hue weather, but the attendance of the public was wvot&hed, all interest having apparently vanished. Even tho members of Committee did not roll up m force. The tie for second place m hose praotice was run off, and at the first attempt both men did it m 51,-isecs, and at the second attempt Gulliver, of Bangiora, did it m 50aecs, and Tattersall, of Dunedin, §aec longer. For the hose and ladder practice, five men to run 10 yards, pick up a reel, run 100 yards to a fire-plug, fix a hydrant, run out 100 feet of einvas hose, fix the branch and show water, the judges awarded the prizes m the following order : — Napier 49isecs South Dunedin 60isecs Rangiora 53:', sees Hydrant practice, for two men to run 50 yards to the plug carrying tho hydrant, hose "and branch, fix the hydrant, run out 50 feet of hose and show water. South Dunedin ... ... ... 25secs Dunedin, No. 2 team 25-Ueca Dunedin, No. 1 team 25Jsecs Tho Mneterton team uiutlo tho longest time of424seca. i The 200 yards foot-race for firemen was won by Davenport, of Wanganui, with HounsI low, of Masterton, second. There was a tug

of war for a bride's cake, and as the captain of the New Plymouth team and Fireman Graham of Lyttelton are about to bo married, these two teams tugged for it. Ljttelton won, so Graham secured the cake. The meeting is now concluded, and the prizes were presented to night. The annual meeting of the United Fire Brigade Association has been held m connection with tho present demonstration. The following offices wero appointed to act during the ensuing twelve months : — President,Capt. Cummings (Wanganui) ; Vice-Presidents, Captain Amos (Tirnarn), and Superintendent Watevworth (Napier) ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr R. Robertson (Dunedin). It was decided the next demonstration should be held m Napier.