The second competition for the Challenge Shield presented by the Fire Insurance Companies took place on the Race Course on Saturday afternoon. The tive companies mustered on the French Bund at four o'clock with all engines and reels, and the look and ladder truck of the Mih-ho-loong. After a little delay a start was made, headed by the Town Band, for the Race Course. Several of the ponies, not being used to the slow rate of progress made, became fractious and the engine of the Deluge Ca. had to be sent home on that account, On arriving at the Race Course a delay of about half an hour ensued while.|the preliminaries were discussed and lots drawn by the competing teams for the order of precedence. 'The drill to be gone through by teams of five men from ench company was: First, stretch two lengths of hose and' play '9 stream, the time being taken from the crossing of the line till the water was turned on, Second, turn off water, attach a double loose-neck and two more lengths of hose to the hydrant, and play both streams. Third, a length of hose is supposed to have burst and requires rephicing with a sound length. The French Company were the first to go through this drill, which was done in a very creditable manner, although they were penalized for not flushing the hydrant. Their time for the first part was 35 secs. for the second 34 secs., and for the third 36 secs, their time for the whole. drill being 1 min. 45 secs, They were followed by the Victorias, who made the quickest time in the third event, the burst length being replaced in the incredibly short time of 264 secs. Their times for the first and second events were not so good, being secs, and 433 secs. respectively. The total time occupied by this team was 1 min. 505 secs, Next came the Hongkew Company this team appeared to be rather lacking in system and they lost some time in the third event through not coupling properly. Their times wore 34sees., 4Isecs., and Bisecs. for the three events respectively, total of mins, Gsecs. The Mih-ho-loong came next and made the best. time in the second event, 324secs., also being the smartest. Every man appeared to know exactly what to do and did it, there being a remarkable smoothness throughout the whole drill. Their respective times were B7hsecs., 324secs., and 323secs. Following the Mih-ho-loong came the Deluge, the holders of the Shield, but from some cause or other the team fairly went to. pieces, their time being the longest of all, viz. mins. secs. the times for the three events being 35secs., 48ksees., and 46secs., respectively.
The Shield was, after points had been given for drill, awarded to the Mih-ho-Toongs, the "French Ca. being second, Victoria third, Hongkew fourth, and Deluge ast. The winning team consisted of Messrs. H. Daldy, G. V. T. Marshall, H. C. Peatee, F. Nickel, and E. W. Sharples, who each receive a'silver cup from the donors of the Shield.
The Insurance Companies had expressed a wish fora photograph of the entire brigade with engines, tracks, and reels to be taken, but for some inscrutable reason, instead of this being taken on the Bund when the light was good and all the men and gear. were spick and span, itwas postponed until after the competition, when the men were tired and dirty and the failing light was greatly against a good picture being obtained. Four of the reels left the ground without waiting to be "taken."
The timekeepers for the competitions were, Messrs. J. Ambrose and Tomlin, the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.