Page 360 - Reading Mercury

committee, consisting of members of the Council in favour of the idea should be
formed in order to carry out the wish of the majority of the Council.

th
Sat 18 April
THE NEW STEAM FIRE ENGINE
The new steam fire engine expressly built for the Wokingham Voluntary Fire
Brigade by Merryweather & Son, of London will arrive her next Tuesday, and the
Rev. J. T. Brown has kindly placed the grounds of St. Paul’s Rectory at the disposal
of the brigade and its subscribers. Mrs. C.T. Murdoch will name the new steamer.

th
Sat 25 April
THE NEW STEAM FIRE ENGINE
Through the kindness of the Rev. J.T. Brown, the members of the local Volunteer
Fire Brigade were enabled to test the actual working of the new steam fire engine. In
the presence of the subscribers and friends at the beautiful grounds of St. Paul’s
Rectory. The cost of the new engine complete is £433. The whole of which sum was
entirely raised by public subscription the gentry of the neighbourhood contributing in
most cases liberally towards it. In addition to the purchase of the steamer, about 600
feet of additional hose (making over 2,000 feet belonging to the brigade) was
purchased and considerable alterations and improvements were affected at the engine-
house.
Wokingham now possesses a large and powerful fire engine capable of throwing
water 150 feet high, and of thirty horse power, the working pressure being 100 lbs.
Four distinct hose jets can be used, as was shown at the trial of the engine on Tuesday,
with the new steamer.
There is also the large manual engine, built in 1878, by Messrs. Merryweather and
Sons, at the cost of £170, and the old manual which was formerly under the control of
the police, and which might render useful service. Previous to the christening of the
new steamer some friendly competitions upon the large manual engine were gone
through, viz., “One man drill,” “Two men dry drill,” and “Four men dry drill.” Two
sets of each were gone through by members of the local brigade.
The engine was christened by Mrs. Murdoch, wife of the member for Reading, the
operation being performed by means of a bottle of champagne suspended from the
footboard and which when swung broke upon the splinter bar. Mr. E. Murdoch, on
behalf of his mother, spoke of the honour and pleasure it gave Mrs. Murdoch to name
the engine and alluded in flattering terms to the usefulness, etc., of the local brigade
and said that now they possessed the large and powerful steamer, their former actions
would even be surpassed. (Cheers.) The covering of the name-plate upon the foot-
board was removed and showed the name “Alert,” which caused great cheering. A
bouquet, the gift of Mrs. Heffer of the Terrace, to the brigade for the purpose was
presented to Mrs. Murdoch by Miss Lilian Ifould, youngest daughter of the captain of
the brigade.
The capabilities of the engine were tested and gave every satisfaction, and the full
working power of the engine (100 lbs.), was raised in exactly eight minutes after the
fire was lighted. The various trials lasted for more than half an hour and were
witnessed by a large company including the élite of the neighbourhood, and the pond
in the Rectory grounds was used to supply the water. The height of the jets thrown
exceeded that of the tallest elm and other trees in the grounds.
At the conclusion of the trials the company assembled upon the lawn, and Mr. S.A.
Hankey thanked the Rector of St. Paul’s and Mrs. Brown for throwing the grounds

358