Joseph Orchiston
Joseph Orchiston (c1857-1929)
1929 Obituary [1]
JOSEPH ORCHISTON died on the 18th June, 1929, at Wellington, New Zealand, in his 73rd year.
He was born in Scotland in 1857 and when 5 years of age went with his parents to New Zealand, where he spent the remainder of his life.
In 1874 he became a cadet in the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, and after a year's training was appointed postmaster at Hawera.
A few years later he was transferred to the head office in Wellington, where he was employed in the construction and maintenance department, and shortly afterwards was given charge of all constructional work in the district.
On being promoted to sub-inspector he was transferred to the Auckland district, and was responsible for the installation of the Auckland telephone exchange in 1881, this being the second telephone exchange to be opened in New Zealand.
He was transferred to the Otago district 11 years later, and at the beginning of 1911 became engineer-in-chief of the department at Wellington.
He retired in 1918.
He joined the Institution in 1881 as an Associate, became a Member in 1895, and was for many years Local Honorary Secretary for New Zealand.