It marked the arrival of a treat laid on for the launch of a book recording the volunteer rural fire brigade's history.
In trundled the firefighting trailer, used when the brigade was established in 1974. It had been rebuilt by members in time for the occasion. It was followed by "L'il Flick", an old fire tender that had represented a major step up for Kakanui when it replaced the trailer. Having been located in Queenstown, it was taken back to Kakanui for Saturday's celebrations.
Former and current firefighters from the Kakanui brigade were poring over their copies of the book written by local man Murray Turner.
"I've never been a fireman. I've never written a letter to my mother, even," he said.
However, he had written reports for local government authorities for 28 years.
