DEATH OF CAPTAIN CASEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3410, 7 July 1881, Page 2

DEATH OF CAPTAIN CASEY.

ANOTHER old colonist has passed over to the " great majority " in the person of Captain Casey, who died at his residence, North Shore, last night, at the advanced a£e of 61. , Although not resident ti_ the colony so long as many others^ Captain Casey was well-known, ahd his was one of the most familiar faces on tbe Queen-street wharf. He was almost wholly connected with shipping matters, and was the owner at various times of a lar^e number of trading craft. To his private enterprise is due in a large, measure the regular steam communication enjoyed by many flourishing country settlements, and this is notably the case with the •Mahurangi and Hot Springs, and also the Riverhead and Kaipaia trade. A great deal of the progress of these settlements may be attributed to the advantages the settlers derived from the regular trip 3ot Captain Casey's steamers, which succeeded the old cargo boats and cutters that had previously monopolised the trade. Notwithstanding the fact that Captain Casey was so well known, very few of his acquaintances appear to he possessed of much knowledge regarding his early life. He waa, however, born in Cork, Ireland, and spent his boy-: hood iv tbat city. Possessing a natural taste for a seafaring life, he went to sea at an early age, aud soon rose to the position' of master of a merchant vessel. He sailed out of Liverpool is captain on various trips? to the Mediterranean and West Indies, and'j he also made one voyage to high northern latitudes, but the cold there was so intense; that he vowed it would be his last to that! part of the world. He arrived in Auckland; for the first time in the barque Eugene, of, which he was captain. This was in 1854 or 1855. ' The vestel came from Melbourne, and Captaiu Casey made several trips in' her between the two places. He then; determined to settle down here with Mrsj Casey, ahd he entered the -employ ofj Messrs. Bain, Pear'se and.Co. After being, engaged at lightering for some : time, I he purchased a trading cutter of his' own, and subsequently invested in others. He was also a partner With the late Daniel: Simpson in an engineering contract for the; excavation of Albert Street and the recla-1 mation of Custom House-street. This was about twenty years ago, and at that time what is now the foot of Albert-street was i the edge of a steep cliff, while the enclosure between Custom House-street and Fort-street was then a portion of this beacb. The contract which was a very extensive one was successfully carried out. Captain Casey owned several cutters about this time, and amongst them were the Shamrock, Rose, (sailed by Captain Joiner, a well-known.coaitlng skipjier) and others. One of his; cutters named the Tamaki Pa.ket Waa lengthened in tbe bows by. Messrs D.uthie and Ross and converted into, the welj-known." Royal mail ateaiuship " Gemini, which ran for so many years between Auckland and Riverhead. Captain Casey was very energetic aud persevering, and' he carefully watched the growth of the more prosperous country settlements, and as bis business increased he had steamers built to take up the trade. In this way be. became possessor of quite a large fleet of small steamboats. In later years he Invested in a superior class of boats, such, for instance, as the iron steamers City of Cork, Rose Casey, and Kina, and to his credit it may be said that ho gave the work of constructing these to the local foundries. He was ever willing to assist local industry, and the practical manner iv which he carried. his :' principles into effect while local companies were ordering steamers at lower prices from England won the approbation of the public. Captain Casey won considerable notoriety iv connection with the large claim lor salvage brought against the ship'Miltiades, which went ashore while entering Waitemata harbour about seven years ago. One of Captain Casey's steamers was passing at the time and toived her oft. The matter was compromised on payment by the agents of a comparatively large amount, but still only a small proportion of the original claim, Captain Casey disposed of his intorest in the Kaipara trade with all his steamers excepting the Rose Casey and Annie Milbauk to the Kaipara Steamship Company about two years ago. He had not sailed in any of his own vessels for a number of years, but recently he assumed command of the s.s. Rose Ca«ey, trading to Mahuraugi. It is believed that to this step may be attributed his death. A severe wetting contracted a cold, which in turn brought on a bad attack of bronchitis. He gradually became worse, but for come time his illness was not thought to be sufficiently corxouo to Odtioo olurna. ' <__iy .alii Ottacy Wil-d apparently 'not of the same opinioD, as the following circumstance will show. He was accosted in town by a friend, who enquired alter tbe state ot his health. He replied that he was far from being well; that in fact ho waa " going up to do the last thing that a man did before he died—to get trimmed by the barber." Captain Casey always ovii-ccd a warm interest in all matters cou iv cted with the welfare of. the port, and he was for a considerable time a member; of the Harbour Board. He was elected a member by the ratepayers on the constitution of-the Board, and held office until May, 1874- In 1877 he again congested a seat, and, haviug been elected, sat till 1879., fie.was also one of the chief promoters of the annual, regatta held. in i Auckland, and for a number of years ;served on the Regatta Committee, and alab held the office of hon. treasurer to that body. Captain Casey leaves a grown-up family of one son' and four daughers, all of whom are unmarried. Mrs Caaey died about four years ago. The flags of the various vessels in harbour, and the shipping and mercantile houses were Hying at halfmast to-day, out of respect to the memory of the deceased.