OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 13

OBITUARY

MR G. H. WINTER (Special to Daily Times) INVERCARGILL, June 2. The death has occurred at the age of 77 of Mr George Herbert Winter, who is said to have installed the first telephone in Gore at Fleming and Gilkison’s flour mill. Mr Winter was born at sea off the coast of New Zealand and was educated in Dunedin. He joined the Post and Telegraph Department in 1887, and was stationed in Dunedin till 1901, when he was transferred to Invercargill. He retired from the service in 1923. As telegraph linesman overseer, Mr Winter had charge of the erection of a number of telephone lines in the country districts of Southland, including the Lumsden, Mossburn, Otautau, Merrivale and Wairio and Birchwood sections. He also worked on the first telephone line between Invercargill and Gore. As a raconteur of his early experiences in the Post and Telegraph Department Mr Winter had few equals. Mr Winter was connected with Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows for more than 51 years, and for some years was secretary of the Albion Lodge, Dunedin. He was also a prominent member of the Masonic Order and attained Grand Lodge office. He was a Past Master of Lodge Otago and an honorary member of Lodge Waihppi, Invercargill, and for many years had acted as tyler for the Invercargill lodges.