The Railway Operating Staff.

It is interesting to recall here that Messrs. Holmes and Co. obtained the nucleus of the operating staff from Victoria, Australia, the staff including Mr. Joseph Jones, Stationmaster at Christ-church, and Mr. George Fitzmorris, Stationmaster at Ferrymead. Other members brought over by Messrs. Holmes and Co. included Messrs. A. Beverley (engine driver), J. Dickenson (fireman), G. Bentley (guard), A. Sedcole and R. Knuckey (crane-drivers, Ferrymead), W. Hasloch and J. Currie (porters, Ferrymead), W. Syms (head porter), W. Pleasance and G. Duffy (porters), and Joseph Irving, shunter at Christchurch.

T. M. Fowke, for many years guard on the Canterbury Railways, joined the service at Christchurch soon after the Ferry-mead line opened, and after a few months at Christchurch was transferred to Ferrymead as porter. Harry Smith, timekeeper, storekeeper, paymaster, and general factotum on the tunnel contract, came from Victoria with the contractors; W. Bourke was also employed as a timekeeper on the contract, and P. Gilmore, who had had previous railway experience in Ireland, was appointed clerk at Ferry-mead. These three last-mentioned officers were subsequently in charge of various stations in Canterbury. Early tradesmen employed in the erection and maintenance of plant and rolling stock were: Messrs. J. Hyde (fitter), W. Woodward and P. Pope (blacksmiths), E. Round (striker), W. Anderson (carpenter), and J. S. Lane (painter). Mr. A. McKenzie, page 36 was employed assisting the fitter and subsequently became fireman, loco. foreman, and loco, inspector.

The goods business at Christchurch was in charge of a Goods Manager, and was afterwards divided into two sections, viz:—Inside Goods, including the management of the sheds, or warehouses; and Outside Goods, dealing with such traffic as was delivered and received in the yard. Mr. E. W. Tippetts was Inside Goods Manager, and Mr. H. Hesketh Outside Goods Manager. Messrs. E. W. Tippetts and Edwin Silk had been associated in Victoria with Mr. J. M. Heywood, founder of the Christchurch firm of J. M. Heywood and Co. Mr. Heywood was Secretary and Manager of the Canterbury Steam Navigation Co., and Mr. Tippetts was in charge of the company's wharf (steam wharf) on the Heathcote River. When the Railway was opened, a great deal of the business was diverted to Ferrymead, and the steamer company leased its wharf. Mr. Tippetts, with his clerk, Mr. W. Packard, joined the Railway service, and Mr. Silk also was in that service for some time.