RAILWAY APPEALS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 149, 25 June 1915, Page 8

RAILWAY APPEALS

SOUTH ISLAND CASES. Several railway appeals were heard at the Magistrate's Court to-day before tho Railway Appeal Boards. The first case came before the South Island Board, consisting of Messrs. W. R. Haselden, S.M. (chairman), and J. P. Matheson, First Division, and R. J. Dash, Second Division Maintenance. The appellant was John M'Nair, assistant engineer at Dunedin, who appealed against being superseded by Mr. C. A. Jeffries for the position of District Engineer at Ohakune. Mr. R. W. M'Villy, Chief Clerk of the Railway Department, appeared for the Department, and Mr. J. S. M'Pherson for the appellant. Some of the evidence had been taken previously. The first witness called to-day was Alfred James M'Credie, District Engineer at Christchurch, who said that appellant was his Assistant Engineer at Invercargill. He did not display any outstanding ability, but gave average satisfaction in work allotted to him. He had never recommended appellant for promotion, but he had never made an adverse report. Robert West Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department, said that appellant joined the Department as a caoet, and gave every promise, at tho time of his resignation, of turning out a very valuable officer. However, witness knew nothing about appellant during the past nine years. J. Marchbanks said that while appellant was Assistant Engineer for the Manawatu Railway Company he carried out important works with complete satisfaction. After further evidence, decision was reserved. Further evidence in the appeal of L. Paterson, car and wagon inspector, Christchurch, against the promotion of William Austin, Newmarket, to the position of timber inspector to the Stores branch, was then taken.