Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Mr. James Marchbanks, A.M. Inst. C.E., Resident Engineer of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, was born in 1862 in Dunedin, where also he was educated. In 1878 he entered the Public Works Department in Dunedin as a cadet, and was articled to the late Mr. W. N. Blair, Engineer-in-Chief for the Colony. Completing his term in 1882 he was appointed Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department at Dunedin. Mr. Marchbanks had several years' experience in the South, during which he made many surveys, including parts of the Otago Central, the Catlin's River, Edendale-Toitois, and Windsor-Livingstone railways. Coming to the North Island, he was similarly employed on the Manawatu Gorge railway. Resigning his appointment under the Government in 1890, he was appointed Assistant Engineer on the Wellington and Manawatu Railway, and was promoted to the post of Resident Engineer in 1892. Mr. Marchbanks was elected an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers about the year 1888. He has taken a good deal of interest in outdoor amusements, being a member of the Committee of the Amateur Athletic Club, and a member of the Thornd Bowling Club.