DEATH OF MR. KOCH

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 156, 31 December 1901, Page 6

DEATH OF MR. KOCH

A REMARKABLE CAREER. The death is announced to-day— having occurred last night— of Mr. Augustus C. ™. Koch, a cultured gentleman with a interesting history, who has been connected with coloniul life for the greater part of half a century The cause of death was an internal trouble. -Mr. C. T. Benzoni has supplied us Avith ')■ sketch of the- deceased gentleman's ♦"iireer, prepared from papers handed to him by Mr. Koch during his lifetime. Sir. Koch was born in Berlin, his fiitnei-, whom he lost when seven years °ld, being a wool-merchant. At a pupil "f the Royal Agaaemy, he attended the Berlin University lectures on science, anatomy, etc., and Became a Bachelor of Arts. He also studied under Professor Mandel, the celebrated portrait painter and engraver, Bub wus compelled to , select a less sedentary occupation. At the political upheaval in 1848, the Royal Academicians and University students made commo^f cause with the people. On the memorable 18th March young Koch was at the barricades in the streets of Berlin for fifteen hours, his- comrades making thab prolonged stand against an almost overwhelming force of disciplined troops. Four hundred civilians were killed, and thirteen hundred soldiers lost their lives. Some excuse may be found for taking so active a part in this revolution when it is remembered that since the accession of ( William IV. in 1840 the people had looked, forward to haying some constitutional privileges (promised as far back as 1813) granted to them. The middle class were praying the King to fulfil \lxe promises, and urged His Majesty to grant them trial by jury and liberty of the press ;' and they demanded the abolition of "so-called Jesuitical influence" said to be then so prominent in all adminisfiation throughout, the country. The agitation consequent" on tie above incidents disturbed all love for study, and Art was abandoned. Mr. Koch's ideas were absorbed by political events, and for aome time he was caricaturist for the Kladderatsch, the German Punch. After the death of his mother Mr. Koch sought and obtained employment on the seas, and visited many of the great ports, eventually, becoming second officer of a large East Indiaman trading to Calcutta and other places, and finally he came to Auckland. In 1859 (Christmas) the Austrian frigate Novara arrived there on an ex- . ploring voyage round the world. Dr. F. Hochstetter, the geologist, was detailed, at the request of the Governor, to stay in New Zealand for six months, that he might extend his researches at the expense of the Auckland and Nelson provinces. The Governor attached Mr. Koch as artist to the geologist's staff, and the Doctor projected the -first large map of Auckland. Over seventy drawings were made,, representing scenery incidental to the reconnaissance surveys. Most of these drawings by Mr. Koch are in the Colonial Museum art; Vienna; and some illustrate the doctor's work published by .the New Zealand Government in 1867, and' are to this day said to be the basis of certain Standard work of th% colony.' ''Of the five of the staff, viz.. Dr. Ferdinand Hochstetter, Sir Julius Haast, Major Drumraond Hay, Mr. Hamel (the photographer), and Mr. Koch, none now remain. Five hundredmiles of dense bush was crossed and recrossed—necessarily on foot— by these scientific enthusiasts. When. Mr. Koch* returned to Auckland he was engaged in making large plans, surveying, and subdividing suburban sections „md reducing lithograph plans, and the first map of Auckland City was published. He had already introduced in New Zealand the present process in photography,! of prints ing from negatives, and hitd made over iis apparatus, etc, to Mr. Crornxne, the tiien principal photographer in Auckland. In 1859 Mr. Koch was appointed Chief Draftsman to the newly formed" Province of Hawkes Bay, and was, as a volunteer, actively engaged in rebelling the P^bel Maoris front Awarunui, a. Maori . y 1 "^jjaear Napier, when: the town was '/' W^ b^ Te ooti - He subsequentj \_ mipanied the Native Minister on f l-'4^' ct i on of the several fighting pahn i ■\SBJBPi making stetcnes, eta, for the jjgj&gPit' Government, and also found Ito assist in forming tha first MasonieXodge in Napier (Scinde), in which he held all the rjffices the brethren could bestow. He n\ade the fmrt map, of the provit.ee, receiving for. it a- prize from the Otago JjxbJbitaon, and he published the origiifal map 'of Napier. Various illumimtted ad<?iesses, notably those for Her Majesty, ttfe Duke of Edinburgh, > r and several of the Governors of the colony were exe<2Uted by him, arid are gems of art. TJwt gold discoveries, at the Thames •.next attmcted Mr. Koch's attention, and he, with two others,, established themselves at Auckland as nj.ining surveyors, On the introduction of the PubJlc Wiviks policy Mr. Koch: made the fet Parliamentary plan for the AuckJandrailway, and t"ie work receiving <■ favourable comment from the Engineer-in-Charge, hv> was appointed, draftsman in the Public Works Department, where his services were mo<it profitably -utilised for the benefit of his adopted country, and he remained in. harness rrp to the time of the illness -which necessitated his ► retirement for treatment. Mr. Koch was connected with the Thorndon School for soir.e thirty years without intermission, ani'i. was Chairman of the School Committee continuously for twtf-thirds of that period. His perbeverance in matters which his nature prompted him to deferad, or as may be, warranted and received the warmest commendofcion of his ,friends. Mrs. Ivoch predeoaastd him some 17 years; and of his family he leaves three sons— one in the Bank of New Zealand at H'iwera, anqthfer District Engineer in the Bailway Dejrirtment, Wellington, and the third in Fiji; also three daughter?; one of whom, is married.