TIMARU FIRE BRIGADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13243, 25 March 1907, Page 6

TIMARU FIRE BRIGADE.

RETURN FROM EXHIBITION CONTESTS. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. The Tiniaru Volunteer Fire Brigade's team of five men returned from Christchurch by the last train on Saturday evening and met- a most enthusiastic popular reception at'the station. The team consisted of Captain P. Campbell, Lieutenant A. Jones, firemen T. Thomson, W. Hunt and R.; Bartlie. Dming the past week the team have been taking part in the biennial competitions l.eld at the Exhibition in Christchurch under the auspices of the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand, Their record for the week is most creditable as they were successful in securing two out of four shields presented for competition. A very huge crowd gathered on the station platform after 7 o'clock, and upon .inivai of the train cheered time after time as the shield winners left the train. The Mayor (Jlr Craigie), and all the,councillors had gatheredMo welcome the team home.' On leaving the station the men took their seats upon'the brigade's manual engine in fiont of the station steps. s Here the Mayor announced that the team would firstly be taken through the main street, and return to the Council Chambers wiiere he would «ay a few words of welcome. MrCraigie called for three cheers for the fciam, and go*/ a ready response. The Garrison Band then -«huck up a lively air,, and preceding the vehicle, which was, drawn by willing hands, and on which were mounted the Mayor and the brigade team, the crowd maiched into Stafford via StrathUlan sti«et, thence, along North and Barnard Greets to the brigade station. The" Pipe Band and the Marine 1 Band also took part in the procession. At the summit of George street a still larger crowd had gathered than at the station. Mr Craigie then said that he had much p!ea<-ur<* in welcoming the team home. On, behalf of the townspeople' he expressed pleasure and pride at the victories of the, team. He had a telegram from the Hon. W. Hall-Jones (Acting-Premier) who had distributed the prizes, stating that ib had given him great pleasure to hand a Timaru kam two valuible shields. (Applause). Mr Craigie then read a list of the performances of the team as follows :—- Manual engine (3 men), 2nd; time. 47 3-ssec (winners' time . 47 2-ssree). ;■ Manual engine (one man), 2nd; 36 3-ssec (winner's time 36 2-ssec).. Hosei hydrant and union (3 men), Ist; 44sec. Five men manual, 2nd; 44 3-sEec' (winners' time 44sec). Alarm and disabled; hose (5 men), 3rd ; 64 2-ssec (winners' time 57 l-ssec). Cheer upon cheer followed this, and the Mayor remarked that the win of the Timaru team had been a very popular one. It could be seen from the results of the competitions that the team's doing* were most consistent all through, and that was the object of the presentation of the chields, which were given to the team gaining the best aggregate in events. It was better to put irp a consistent record than a brilliant and, isolated performance. It was in this respect particularly that the Timaru men had proved their ability, and they were to be congratulated !and thanked for their good work. In concluding, the Mayor said that these "would probably have the effect of s-purring the Council on in procuring a motor reel and engine for the Timaru Brigade. Timaru was now growing an extensive place, with valuable buildings, and it would be necessary for the Brigade to have adequate locomotion for the transport of Apparatus. Captain Campbell then made a few remarks in vi'ply to the hearty and popular reception given hi< team. Mr Craigie thanked the three bands for playing out, and after more exchange of cheers the crowd dispersed. —-i-Mtt-OtirclUxr,- Wii.un -Welti-brnujjlllr- UOWII-I by the team, were subsequently shown in Mr G. Hilton's window, where a large crowd viewed them. They are very fine pieces of work. The large one is presented for the best aggregate (champinn-

ship shield) and the smaller one fur the team in manual engine woik The shields "will be on view in Mi Hilton' • window to-day.