CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6] — Page 142

Enclosure.

rd

23th April,

1883

Inspection

2.

from

the

on the 22nd instant.

As will be pertly

Allu

aunxed report in the chief

toeat journal, & found every

I found every thing in

Enclosure

207 April, 180

good order, under Mr.C. Wodehouse,

whom in 1883 I appointed to be Superintendent.– General Cameron, who

accompanied:

me to the Inspection, "

expressed himself.

ao much pleased by

the smart and soldierlike appearanc

of the Officers

and new,

I have the honour to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's Most Obedient Huuble Servant,

5. M.

Bowen

ANNUAL

INSPECTION OF THE HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADES.

Agreeably to announcement an inspection of the Government and Volunteer Fire Brigados was held on Wedassday afternoon, the 22nd inst., by His Excellency the Governor, on the Praya side of the City Hall. There were also present Major-General Cameron with Mrs. and the Misses Cameron, Capt. Lewis, A.D.C., and Lieut. Somerville, A.D.C. to the General, Hon. P. Rycie, Commodore Morant, R.N., Colonel Graves, the French Consul and Mrs. Déjardin, &c. Government Nos. 2, 3, and 4 steamers and Nos. 6 and 7 manuals were on the spot us also the Hongkong Fire Insurance Company's steamer. There were also two hoses attached to the plugs in front of Beaconsfield Arcade. Shortly after His Ex- cellency's arrival the men, who were detached in separate bodies belonging to the respective on- giues, ware inspected, after which they were sent about their work. The Government Brigade was under Superintendont Wodehouse and As- sistant Superintendent Horspool, Mr. J. S. Brewer being in charge of the engines, and the Hongkong Fire Co.'s steamier under Foreman Coxon. All the engines worked well, the best being Government No. 4 and the Hongkong Fire Co.'s steamer, which threw up powerful columus of water to a considerable distance. The manuals proved substantially the inferiority of man power compared with steam power, and the two hoses from street plugs made a miserable show. An extincteur in charge of Mr. Kemp, of the Government Brigade, thraw a jet of water-a distance of some twenty-five to thirty feet; it might render valuable services at the breaking out of a conflagration. His Excellency having viewed the working with the hoses, an elastic ladder maneuvre was gone through, which proved to satisfaction the efficiency of the men in climbing to the height of a three-storeyed building taking with them the nozzle of the hose, and the facility with which the hose can be haul- ed up to the window of any house.

The men were then formed up into line, and His EXCELLENCY addressed thom as follows:- Mr. Superintendent Wodehouse, officers and men of the Government and Volunteer Brigades,-It is with great pleasure that I have inspected you this day for the third time. As on previous occasions, I congratulate you on the way you do your work and on the efficient state of your en- gines. You see that I have come here accom- panied by my gallant friend Geuoral Cameron, who anthorises me to inform you that he is much pleased by your smart and soldierlike bearing. My gallant friend has also just told me that shortly before leaving England he visited the Head-quarters of the Fire Brigade in London, where everything is done with great éclat; but I am sure that you are not behind in officiency. Other Volunteers are called upon to protect their follow-citizens only against external ene- mies, who may never attack; bat you, gentlemen of the Fire Brigades, fight with Fire, an enemy ever present in our homes, and who may burst forth upon us at any moment. I am sure that your motto will ever be "Ready, aye ready."

Superintendent Wodehouse then called upon the men for three cheers for the Queen, three cheers for the Governor, and three cheers for the General, all of which were heartily respond- ed to, after which orders were given to reel up the hoses and the proceedings terminated.

141