THE FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION AT BALLARAT.
The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil (Melbourne, Vic. : 1873 - 1889) Sat 4 Jun 1881 Page 181
The annual demonstration of the fire brigades of the colony, on the Queen's Birthday, was held this year at Ballarat. As usual, the part of the proceedings most interesting to the public was the torchlight procession on the night previous to the competitions, and it is this which we have selected as the subject of our engraving. The Argus local correspondent, writing on the day before the competitions, said: — ' Ballarat is all ablaze just now with firemen, red and blue, and what with the number of firemen and their attendant bands who have arrived, and the thousands of visitors from the country who have come and who are expected 'to arrive to witness the torchlight procession and the competition, I do not think Ballarat was ever so full of visitors as it will be to-night and the following day or days since the visit of Prince Alfred. According to the returns to hand, 2,100 firemen, representing about 50 brigades, are expected to take part in the various competitions. On Saturday, the most of the officers and men of the Beechworth, Chiltern, Corowa, Alexandra, Hamilton, Horsham, Kilmore, Murtoa, and Wangaratta brigades put in an appearance; and on the same day at least 130 ladder carriages, engines, and hose reels arrived by train. Meantime the local committees have been very busy ornamenting the two brigade stations, and adorning the halls of same with flags and flowers and illuminating gaslights; and the town and city will probably vie with each other in making the grandest display of gas, bunting, and fireworks. To-day the following brigade teams have arrived: — Moroopna, Stawell, Ararat, Beaufort, St. Arnaud, Dunolly and Maryborough, Talbot, Clunes, Chines Salvage, North Clunes, Creswick, Echuca, Inglewood, Eaglehawk, Long Gully, Sandhurst City, Goldensquare Temperance, Sandhurst No. 1, Kangaroo-flat, Castlemaine, Maldon, Daylesford, Warrnambool, Geelong, Geelong Salvage, Newtown and Chilwell, Melbourne, including all suburban brigades; Williamstown, Footscray, and Yarraville."
Of the night display, he wrote: — "The torchlight procession of the fire brigades was a grand success, and was witnessed by at least 16,000 people in the streets. The weather was all that could be desired — a dark, mild, dry night. About 1,700 men took places in the procession, with 18 bands of music, and the display of fireworks and the evolutions of the torch-bearers as the procession marched along were very fine, different portions of the route being frequently brightly illuminated with blazes of red and white fire. Not a single accident or mishap has been reported."
The annual competition of the brigades was commenced on the following day. The competition took place in the Russell-square, which had been specially prepared for the occasion. There were about 1,600 firemen present, and an immense attendance of spectators. The weather was most unfavourable, being intensely cold, and heavy rain falling almost continuously. The Carlton Brewery won the hose practice for the Challenge Cup for the second time. Regarding the contests as a whole, the local brigades hold the pride of place. Ballarat was only beaten by less than half a second in the hose practice by Carlton Brewery. Ballarat City carried off the ladder and hose practice, with Newtown and Chilwell second; and Ballarat and Ballarat City were first and second respectively in the hose practice for six men. Despite most unfavourable weather, the events were won in very much faster time than last year. The brigades, as a whole, seemed to be in a more efficient state than at previous demonstrations. The competition was resumed on the next day.
