RETIRING ON SUPERANNUATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 10

RETIRING ON SUPERANNUATION.

CHIEF RAILWAY MECHANICAL ENGINEER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 28. The chief railway mechanical engineer of the New Zealand Railways (Mr E. E. Gillon), who is retiring on superannuation, joined the service as a boy of 16 as an apprentice in the Hillside Workshops, Dunedin, in August, 1884, under the late Mr A. L. Beattie, who was at that time the manager. In 1888 Mr Gillon was transferred from Hillside to the locomotive drawing office at Addington, which was under the control of the late Mr T. F. Rotheram, locomotive superintendent for the South Island, and later on for the dominion. In 1889, when the locomotive drawing office was moved to Wellington, Mr Gillon was also transferred with it. In order to gain experience in locomotive running work Mr Gillon, in 1892, left the drawing office and went out on the roaa as a fireman for five months and enginedriver for seven months. Upon the completion of 12 months’ practical work on the footplate of an engine he returned for a short period to the drawing office, and was then appointed relieving officer for the locomotive branch, and later on a draftsman. In August, 1899, he was transferred to the traffic management, and was appointed to the position of district manager of the Kaihu section, with headquarters at Dargaville. In June, 1905, Mr Gillon returned to the locomotive branch, and took up the position of locomotive engineer for the South Island West Coast section. In August, 1912, he was moved from Westport and placed in charge of the Hillside Workshops, where he had many years before served his apprenticeship. In June, 1914, Mr Gillon was transferred to Christchurch, and placed in charge of the Addington Workshops, and also took up the position of assistant locomotive engineer for the South Island main line and branches. After remaining at Addington for 13 months he was moved to Wellington, and appointed locomotive engineer in the chief mechanical engineer’s office. He held that position until April, 1919, when he was appointed chief mechanical engineer. During the visit of H.R.Jri. the Prince of Wales, Mr Gillon travelled throughout the dominion with the Royal party, and was responsible for the fitting out and equipment of the Royal trains.