MR W. T. TREGURTHA, ‘ RAILWAY OFFICER, RETIRES FROM OFFICE,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18897, 23 October 1929, Page 16

MR W. T. TREGURTHA, ‘ RAILWAY OFFICER, RETIRES FROM OFFICE,

After forty years’ service in the Rail ' way’ Department, Mr W. T. Tregurtha* Outdoor Assistant Traffic Manager ii\ Christchurch, retired yesterday’. He in, tends to live in Christchurch. Having,, got out of the harness he has worrm so long, he will give more time to his hobby, which is gardening. lie is an old Oamaru boy*. He began his career as a cadet in the Wellington booking-office. From the position of clerk and assistant relieving officer he was promoted to the position of chief clerk at Picton. For six years he was stationmaster at Granity', near Westport. Later, he was relieving officer in the Main Trunk district, chief clerk at Napier, second clerk in the Traffic Manager’s office at Ohakune, stationmaster at Hastings, and stationmaster at Napier. From Napier, on March 19, 1925, he came to Christchurch to the position from which he has retired. He joined the service under the Railway Commissioners, Messrs M'Kerrow, Maxwell and Scott. He saw the railway’s taken over by the Seddon Government, saw that Government take over the Manawatu line, and saw the Midland line and the North Island Trunk completed. When he joined, the Wellington line went no further than Eketahuna, and the Main Trunk ended at Te Kuiti, coaches running between that place and Hunterville. He has seen many inventions brought into the service, many changes, and many dep velopments in transport.