ફે
by
4
the Statute Law of this Colony), I "Orders of
had appointed Mr. H. E. Wodehouse to be the duperintendent of the Government
Fire Brigade, I have now the honour to
- transmit the description given in one of the local journals of the General Inspection of the Fire Brigades, which
A held
on
the 13th instant.
1868
and simple kind of fire escape, invented by a member of the Government Brigade, was mach admired. On the completion of the parade, the officers and men were drawn up together.
His EXCELLENCY then addressed a few appro- priate remarks to the Superintendent, officers, and men of both brigades. He said:-Mr. Super- intendent Wodehouse, officers and men of the Government and Volunteer Fire Brigades, I assure you that it has given me very great pleasure to inspect you this afternoon, and to see you perform your work so well. I congratulate you upon your general appearance and bearing, and also upon the good condition and efficienoy of your engines and apparatus. I was glad to see the useful and simple new Fire Escape, in- vented by a member of the Government Fire Brigade. I shall always be glad to receive through your Superintendent, any representa. tions which the Brigade may desire to make, and I shall give my earnest attention to them, The Government is desirous to promote your efficiency by every means in its power.
You see that I have come here socompanied by my friend, General Sargent, Commanding the Troops, and you will be gratified to hear that he is much pleased with your smart and soldier like bearing. You know what great experience Ganeral Sar- gent has had in inspecting bodies of men, and his praise, therefore, is of the highest practical value. I am sure that the Volunteer Brigade will always work cordially with the Government Brigade. I trust that, by the favour of Pro- vidance, the occasions for your services may be few and far between; bat whenever you may he called upon to act, I am confident that the Fire. men of Hongkong, like the Volunteers of Hong- kong, will always be found-
With hearts resolved and hands prepared The blessings they enjoy to guard.
At the call of the Superintendent, three hearty cheers were given for His Excellency, who then called for three cheers for the Queen, which were also loyally given.
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INSPECTION OF THE HONGKONG FIRE BRIGADES BY GOVERNOR SIR G. F. BOWEN.
On Monday afternoon, the 13th instant, the parade and inspection of the Government and Volantoor Fire Brigades by H. E. Sir Georga Boven took place upon the Praya. The time fized was 5.30, and well befure that time all ar. rangements had been completel, and a great multitude of all classes of the population had assombled as spectators. The members of the Brigades present were about 250 in number. The Volunteer Fire Brigade with the Hong- kong Fire Insurance engine had the most western position, adjoining the site of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank; next to them was the No. 1 floating engine, then the Nos. 2, 3, and 4 steam engines, to the east of which were three Government manuals, flanked by the new manual of the silk hongs, the coolies of which all had a smart blae uniform. The men were drawn up two deep to receive His Excellency, who arrived punctually to time, accompanied by his Aide-de- Camp, Lient. Lewis, Major-General Sargout, and the Hon. W. H. Marsh, Colonial Secretary. Having inspected the men, engines, and apparatus, accompanied by the Superintendent, Mr. H. E. Wodehouse, His Excellency then saw them at work. With the speed and skill imparted by careful training, the hoses were run out and fix. ed, and in a short space of time more than twenty powerful jets of water were sent into the air, and fell into the harbour, showing what an immense volume of water can be thrown on any confiagration. The Governor also inspected the ladders and fire-escape3, which had been ranged against the City Hall, from the windows of which several men safely descended. A new
and
2.
It will be seen that I
requested General dargent to accompany
me to the Inspection, and that he was -much pleased with the smart and soldierlike appearance of the Officers
and men. Whe
agreed
that we
had
Seen