PATEA NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18951, 1 March 1924, Page 15

PATEA NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent) The Taranaki District United Fire Brigades Association’s Annual Conference was held in the Borough Connell Chambers on Tuesday evening last. The chair was occupied by President C. H. Carey who, in a few words, welcomed he delegates to the town. A comprehensive report on the year’s work was submitted by Secretary Burrows (Eltham). The following officebearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Superintendent Melville (Kaponga); senior vice-president, Capt. White (Manaia); junior vice-pre-sident, Secretary Aitken (Stratford); treasurer, Captain Nuttall (Eltham); secretary, A. Burrows (Eltham). His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Finlayson) gave a welcome to the delegates to Patea.

The annual demonstration took place on the local Domain on Wednesday, the weather being perfect and the attendance fair. The programme contained eight events and resulted as follows: — Gilbcrd Memorial (one man dressing). Prizes, Ist, £3 and medal; 2nd, £2; 3rd, £l.—Patea A, 1 min. 8 4-5 sec., 1; Hawera A, 1 min. 12 1-5 sec., 2; Stratford A, 1 min. 14 3-5 sec., 3. Rescue (one man). —Patea, 24 sec., 1; Patea B, 28 see., 2; Patea C, 28 1-5 sec., 3.

Two Men Coupling.— Patea A, 52 sec., 1; Hawera A, 1 min 4 1-5 sec., 2; Stratford A, 55 2-5 sec., 3. Three Men Dressing.— Patea A, 54 sec., 1; Hawera A, 55 see., 2; Stratford A, 1 min. 4 sec., 3. Three Men (wet). —Stratford, 1 min. 6 sec., 1; Hawera, 1 min. 15 sec., 2; Patea, 1 min. 15 sec., 3. In this event Patea and Hawera tied, but, owing to the lateness of the hour, agreed to toss, Hawera winning. Four Men Reel.—Hawera, 58 sec., 1; Stratford, 62 sec., 2; Patea, 67 sec., 3. Five Men Dressing.— Patea, 1 min. 5 1-5 sec., 1; Stratford, 1 min. 11 3-5 sec., 2; Hawera, 1 min. 29 sec., 3. Modern (5 men). —Patea, 1 min. 32 sec., 1; Stratford, 1 min. 35 sec., 2; Hawera, 1 min. 43 1-5 sec., 3. The shield was won by Patea A with the fine aggregate of 89J points, Stratford being second with 774 points, and Hawera third with 74 points. Then came Kaponga 254 points, Waitara 25 points, Inglewood 5 points and Manaia 3 points. The prizes were presented to the various winners at a smoke concert held in the evening. This demonstration was supposed to have been held in Eltham, but that town found that it would not be convenient to have it there this year. To save time and expense Patea agreed to run the demonstration, and the result has proved conclusively that this small town did not take on a job too big for its resources, as was considered and freely expressed at the time Patea stepped into the breach. The members of the local brigade, especially Secretary Carey, deserve the highest praise for the manner in which they conducted the demonstration.