DEATH OF MR STEPHEN CARKEEK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 29, 3 December 1878, Page 2

DEATH OF MR STEPHEN CARKEEK.

* T ho above-named gentleman died at Featherston on Wednesday evening last. The news was telegraphed to Manawatu on Thursday morniug, and was heard with deep regret by the old settlera, to many of whom Mr Carkeek was personally known. Gradually the early sottlers are passing from our midst, and before many years hence the last will have gone from us. We reprint the following from last Snturday'a Evening Post :— We yesterday announced the death of one of our oldest New Zealand colonists, Mr Stephen Carkeek, who breathed his last a L j Featherston on Wednesday evening. Mr Garkeek came to the colony in a revenuecufcter attached to the ship Westminster, when New Zealand was still a dependency of New South Wales. On or soon after the foundation of the Settlement of Nelson he became Collector of Uustoms there, and subsequently filled the same office in Wollmgton, where he was also sub- treasurer to tho General Government, and held other appointments of trust. When tho (ieneral Government was removed to Wellington in 1865, he became Secretary and Inspector of Customs, but early in tho following yoar he resigned that position, Mr Seed being his successor. lie then retired to a small sheep -run which he purchaser near Featherston, and lived there until his death. He became tired of shecpf firming, and recently made arrangements for the sale of his Wairarapa property. He then paid a visit to his daughter, Mrs Sheath, wife of tho postmaster at Tauranga, and hud just roturned home, when he was seized with an attack of inflammation of the lungs, which proved fatal in a very few days. We understand that Mr Carkeek was about 66 years of ago at the time of his death. In addition to the daughter mentioned above, he leaves a widow, a daughter (the wife of Mr J. T. Stewart.District Engineer in the Manawatu District), and two eons, both surveyors in the Government service. Mr Carkeek was widely»known as an astronomer, and he always took a deep interest in astronomical matters. It was at his instigation that electric clocks and the time-boll were introduced by tbo Provincial Government. He also held a commission in tho militia, and formed one of the first volunteer corps in Wellington. In whatever he underdo ok Mr Carkeek showed an energj that eminently fitted him for a colonist, and the esteem in which he was hold by successive Ministries is shown in the offices ho held.