General Conditions.

This Competition will be held subject to the following General Conditions compiled and adopted by the United Fire Brigades' Association of New Zealand.

1. Constitution of Teams.—Each team shall consist of not more than 5 men, and not more than 5 men shall be allowed to compete from each Brigade: provided that should any member of a competing team sustain such injury while on the ground competing, as (in the opinion of the judges) to incapacitate the said member from further work during the competition, it shall be permitted the team to (if possible) procure a substitute to take the disabled man's place for the remainder of the work that team may have to do. Each member of a team shall have been a member of the Brigade which his team represents not less than six months previuos to the date for closing the entries for this competition, and the Captain of each team shall hand to the Secretary for the Demonstration a written declaration made before a Justice of the Peace attesting the date each man in his team entered the Brigade. All Brigades sending teams must be members of the United Fire Brigades' Association of New Zealand; teams coming from sister Colonies excepted.

2. Nature of Gear.—The minimum weight of competing reels (stripped of everything) shall not be less than 250lb, and any reels below this standard shall be weighted up to it. Each reel to weigh out correctly after its run.

Hose to be strictly canvas, not less than 2¼ inches, and in no way prepared or lined.

Couplings, &c.—Screw Couplings only allowed. All connections of hose to engine, hose to hydrant, hose to hose, hose to union, and hose to branch, to be made with not less than two full turns. The pitch of thread on the hydrant lugs to be not less than 4 turns to one inch. All couplings to be spanner tight at finish.

Hydrants.—Single or double-headed may be used, at the option of the competitors, unless the nature of the event requires the double-headed.

3. Gear—How To Be Made Up For Running.—All caps, couplings, &c., to be hand tight.

Hose in Coil.—To be coiled with the male coupling in the centre, and to be secured by strap through the centre of coil, buckled outside.

Hose on Reel.—To be wound on in one continuous length; and, in every case, a 50 feet length of hose shall be carried on the reel over and above the quantity required (by the nature of the event) to be run out.

4. Gear—How To Be Run Out.—Hose in coil to be run out by the lugs or on a key. No throwing out allowed.

5. Mode of Starting.—The starter shall stand behind the competitors. After giving the caution, «Are you ready?»—no reply being at once made—the starter shall start the men by whistle or pistol as may be arranged. The Judge shall put any man back one yard for every time he attempts to start before the proper start be given.

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6. Mode of Finishing.—Wet Finishes: Branchmen to stand, branch in hand, facing the direction in which the water is to be thrown. Dry Finishes: See special conditions embodied in programme.

8. Dress.—At competitions held under the auspices of this Association all events shall be run in full Brigade uniform—i.e., helmets, jumpers or tunics, trousers, belts, spanners, and boots or ordinary walking shoes (running shoes and spikes or bars on soles not allowed), axes dispensed with. Belts may be attached to tunics by ordinary belt hooks, but must not be tied or sewn on.

9. Time For Starting.—The time for commencing each day's work to be stated on programme. Each team shall be ready to start within 5 minutes' notice being given by the starter (or his deputy), or be disqualified for the event.

10. Testing Hydrants, etc.—No practice to be allowed on the mains or fire-plugs after 9 a.m. on the first day of the competition.

11. Judges And Referees.—Not less than two judges shall adjudicate on each event.

Judges to see that all general and special conditions are strictly complied with; to receive the time from the timekeepers, adding when necessary the time penalties; to deal finally with any teams refusing to comply with the conditions. In the event of any difference arising between the judges, the matter shall be referred by them to the referees, whose decision shall be final: two-thirds majority to settle all matters referred to them.

12. Marshal shall be appointed, who will have charge of torchlight procession, &c., when it is arranged to have one in connection with the Demonstration. He will also place the reels in running order ready for the examiners.

13. Examiners.—To weigh reels, both before and after run; measure all hose, and ascertain that it is of the required length and width, as specified in the conditions. Shrinkage allowed on 50ft. length, 2½ft.; on 100ft. length, 4½ft. To see that hose is properly wetted when conditions require wet hose; to examine couplings, and see that there is sufficient room to take two full turns in making the connections; to examine all hydrant lug threads, and see that they are in accordance with conditions; to see that all hose is properly coiled and strapped, or reeled as the case may be, and that all joints, caps, &c., are hand-tight; that the proper number of men start for each event, and that they are dressed in accordance with the conditions; finally, the examiners having ascertained that all general and special conditions, re gear and men at starting, have been complied with, will hand the teams over to the starters.

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14. Starters to be appointed who shall be conversant with the provisions made re starting in clause 5.

15. Timekeepers.—There shall be not less than 2 time-keepers, more if possible. They shall take time from pistol fire, or whistle, to show of water, bell-ring, or otherwise, as may be provided in the special conditions.

Having settled the exact time between them, they shall communicate the same to the judges only.

16.—Final.—All events shall be contested against time, except otherwise specified; and only one try will be allowed to each Brigade, except in case of a tie. Ties shall be run off by direction of the judges.

Each team shall compete in the order drawn for competition.

Any Brigade entering a protest must make it in writing, and deposit one guinea, which will not be returned if the protest be not upheld or be deemed frivolous.

All work to be gone through in a workman-like manner. No gear to be handled in a way calculated to damage it.

These conditions to be binding, except when the nature of an event in a programme conflicts with them in any way, when special conditions will be entered in the programme.

No valves or stop-cocks allowed in hydrants or branches.

The Napier Brigade will (if necessary) provide hose-reel, hydrant, and hose.

The Judges shall have power to alter (if it appears to them necessary) the order in which events shall be taken.

Entries for the whole of the events to be in the Hon. Secretary's hands at Napier not later than 8 p.m. on December 1st, 1885, and the drawing for places will take place in Napier on the 2nd December under the supervision of His Worship the Mayor and J. D. Ormond, Esq., M.H.R., for Napier. Slips containing the result of the drawing will be forwarded to the various Brigades as early as possible.

On Wednesday, 27th January, 1886, the first event on the card will commence at 10 a.m., and the work will be continued on the succeeding day at 9 a.m. sharp.

Australian Teams.—The Committee offer a bonus of £60 to be divided amongst any three or more Australian Teams attending the competition, who hook their passages for Napier on or before the 15th October (and produce proof of the same). Should less than three teams attend £20 each will be allowed.

Steamboat fares per Union boats. Melbourne to Napier, return tickets, saloon, £17; steerage, £10. Sydney to Napier, return tickets, saloon, £15; steerage, £9.

New Zealand Teams.—Should the capitation vote be carried this year, last year's arrangements re coach and steamboat fares will as far as possible be carried out.

Hotel accommodation will be arranged for at a moderate scale.

A Torchlight Procession will take place on Tuesday evening, 26th January. Brigades to muster at the Napier Fire Station at 7.30 p.m. sharp.

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All communications to be addressed to the Secretary, Intercolonial Fire Brigades Demonstration, Fire Brigade Station, Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.