CANTERBURY ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 571, 28 July 1909, Page 11

CANTERBURY ITEMS.

e- , (By Telcsraph.-Special Correspondent) 1 ChHstchurch, July 27. Tho latest evidence of tho Go\ornment's dosiro for retrenchment m Timaru is to be found m tho fact that tho mounted constable thoro has been robbed of his spurs. In other woids,* the Department has taken his horse from him, and sold it m order to save horscfoed and shoeing expenses, audi tho constable has been informed that he must work the district on a bicycle. A petition was going tho rounds on Saturday in town, asking that tho constable should again bo given a hor6o as it is impossible to look after such a largo district properly on a bicjelo, could not be used in wet weather. Mr. S. F. Whitcombc, e\--traffic manager at Clnistchurch, who has been\transferred to Wellington, was entertained last night at a valedictory gathering by the Canterbury employees of tho railway service. ''You will bo smprjsed to hear that I started my railway career almost as a burglar,'' remarked Mr. AVhitcombe, in returning thanks. "Thirty-four years ago," he continued, "I camo to New Zealand, after foui years' service on the Midland Railway m England, Now Plymouth being tho first town in which I applied for a position on the railway. I was told that I would get a billot as soon as thoio was an opening. A fow dajs later I was wandering on to the railway station, and I found' that tho stationmaster had, owing to indisposition, been unable to put m an appearance, and that a laige crowd was waiting to be booked. I thereupon broke the office window and climbed inside. When tho stationmastoi came down he found that I had booked most of 'tho passengers Almost tho next week I got a job on the railway I would not'adviso anjono who is anxious to join tho Bervico at'tho present time to adopt these method 1 *, how over, for the regulation"! pertaining to tho service aro a great deal stricter than they were in those dijs" All that is loft of tho Elginshire, which .was wiecked off Kingsdoi/n, below Timaru, more than 17 ago, is gradually disappearing fiom view, sajs tho "Timaru Herald "' At high tide now tho seas break right over the wreck, and what decking and timbor of any sort has managed to hold on for so long is being broken awav by tho s?a and washed up on tho beach. A vrry noticeable fact regarding the wreckngo that is coming ashoro is the excellent condition of tho paint and varnish on tho woodnoik. On a piew of cabin fittings tho paint looks remarkably fresh ."ftor 17£ gears' e\po<;uie There ha;o been some fauly stiff seas lately, and high and drv on the beach 's to be seen a solid iron awning for a ship's stairway weighing rnoic,, which mustjhayo* lequired c'onndeinblo forco , to move: l This "hai 'been oceiimed as" a home by two penguins, who havo taken up their quarter's theie. \