LYTTELTON AMATEUR CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18805, 6 July 1929, Page 23 (Supplement)

LYTTELTON AMATEUR CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

CROUP RECALLS A FIREMAN’S FUNERAL. (By R. E. GREEN.) Recently the “ Star ” printed a photo of a group of Lyttelton amateur Christy Minstrels and asked, “ Does any ‘ Star * reader know anything of these early citizens'?” Well, there is one name among them impressed upon my mind that time cannot erase. That name is “ Hillier,” the one at the bottom of the group. _ I am not quite sure, but I think it is A. W. Hillier. If not, then it must be a relation of his, for it is a striking likeness of the photo I furnish with these notes, which is that of the late Alfred William Hillier. This photo brings to my mind sad recollections, because A. W. Hillier lost his life through the mad action of some hoodlums who gave a false fire alarm, and I am sure there are some such fools among us to-day who delight in giving false fire alarms. I feel constrained to relate the case of the

late A. W. Hillier and then perhaps it will cause some of these brainless things in the form of man to pause and think before they do such mad tricks that may deprive some one or more persons of their Hves. Alfred William Hillier, I believe, belonged to a Lyttelton family. However, he joined the Christchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade in August, 1873 (just a few months before I became a member of the brigade). He very soon became very popular with his comrades and soon he was appointed as assistant engineer, first on the “ Deluge,” and later on the “ Extinguisher ” engines. I was foreman of the “ Extinguisher ” company, and while I was treasure! to the brigade, Hillier was secretary, and he held both his positions at the time of his death. Now I must take my readers back to Sunday at 7.30 p.m. on July 29, 1883. That’s not long ago and, of course, what I am about to relate is quite fresh in my mind. At the date and time mentioned, a fire alarm came to the fire brigade station from Box 17. Hillier was close at hand and got busy, and soon the “ Extinguisher ” was on its way in response to that call (which proved to be a false one), and in turning a corner Hillier was thrown off the engine on to the road. At the time he did not complain, and did not appear to be much hurt. However, he was taken straight away to the Christchurch Hospital, and serious symptoms were soon manifest, and at two o’clock next morning the doctors decided to perform an operation for an internal rupture, but it was to no purpose and so A. W. Hillier gradually sank and died at 4 a.m. on August 3, 1883, while yet in the prime of life, at the age of thirty years, leaving a widow and four small children totally unprovided for. This cast a gloom over the brigade and a deep feeling of grief prevailed among every member for the untimely death of a comrade who was held in high estimation by all. His death, they considered, was due to the worse than foolish conduct of the individual who gave the false alarm which was responsible for the accident. However, we gave him a fireman’s funeral, which I will briefly describe. The remains were interred in the Church of England cemetery, Barbadoes Street, on Sunday afternoon, August 5, 1883. The respect in which he was held and the estimation with which the brigade was regarded at that time by the public was shown by the thoroughly representative gathering that followed his body to the grave and by the large concourse of people which assembled to witness the obsequies. In addition to the members of the C.V.F.8., firemen from the surrounding districts were present on that occasion. In the procession there were about 120 firemen. I may here mention that Mr Back, Railway. Stationmaster, put on a special train to bring the LyUelton firemen to assist in the ceremony. The police, who had worked with the firemen at many fires and who had equally been harassed by these false fire alarms, were represented by a detachment of ten men under Mr Inspector Pender. The Sydenham Rifles, forty-four strong, attended under’ Lieutenants Johnson and Linn, and the Garrison Band gave their services to head the procession. Captain Newall, Adjutant for the district, was also present. The Druids, of whose order the deceased was a member, having belonged to the Dunstan Lodge, mustered nearly 200 strong, and there were manv private citizens, including the members of the Fire Brigade Committee of the City Council, Messrs Chrystall, Meares, Bird, Craig. and Scott, representing the various insuri ance companies. Mr V/ illiam Harris, the late superintendent of the C.V.F.8., and many others attended. At 1 p.m. the fire bell at the Ches- | ter Street station commencing tolling, 1 and shortly before 2 pan. the cortege started from the Christchurch Hospital ; (where Mr Hillier died on Friday, August 3, 1883) in the following order: —The Garrison Band, under master Hamilton, playing the Dead March” in “Saul,” then the Druids. The coffin was carried on the hand engine “ Dreadnaught,” bearing the deceased’s uniform; then followed ex-members of the old brigade and other friends of the deceased, the Railway lire Brigade, the Rangiora Fire Brigade, the Kaiapoi Fire Brigade, and the Lyttelton Fire Brigade, the police the Sydenham Rifles, and a number of oar riages. The procession passed along Oxford Terrace to the cemetery in Barbadoes Street, the whole of the route being lined with spectators, the number of which was impossible to estimate. On arrival at the cemetery the coffin was borne to the grave by four members of the “ Extinguisher ”

company. The foremen of the brigade acted as pall-bearers. The burial service of the Church of England was impressively read by the Rev E. A. Lingard, and the Druids’ service was also performed. After the conclusion of this ceremony the processior reformed and marched to the Lichfield Street station, headed by the band, when Mr Superintendent E. W. Turton, of the C.V.F.8., thanked ail for the respect they had shown foi the deceased. The brigades were then dismissed and the proceedings ended. The Christchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade took up Mrs Hillier’s sad case and a sum of money was collected which enabled her to tide over her unfortunate position, which she had been placed in through that malicious false fire alarm.