OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 3

OBITUARY.

DEATH OP CAPT. WHEELER. 'A VETERAN MARINER. ■ The death occurred yesterday evening, at his residence, 144 Tinakori Road, of Captain Edward Wheeler, in former years 0110 of tho best-known master mariners in tho coastal and intercolonial trade, and a familiar figure on the waterside lip till a few weeks ago, when his health began to fail. Ho was one of the fow remaining links between tho days of sail and thoso of steam, and had a long and comprehensive experience in both.

Captain Wheeler, who was one of tho oldest mariners 011 tho New Zealand coast, first went to sea in 1844, serving his apprenticeship for five years in Messrs. T. and W. Smith's employ, running out of London, and subsequently 110 was third and second officer in the same company's employ. He afterwards traded to India and China in sailing ships as second and chief officer. 111 1808 he joined tlio steamer Lord Ashley as chief officer and sailed for New Zealand, tlio vessel being chartered by the Government to run- the mails 011 the New Zealand coast. A year later lie was given charge of this vessel, and later had command of the Prince Alfred, belonging to tho samo firm, which'eventually merged into the Intercolonial Royal Mail Company, and again into tlio Panama-New Zealand and Australian Royal' Mail. Company. He remained in tho employ of the company until they sold out; and then joined the Now Zealand Shipping Company, for whom 110 commanded the Phoebe and Lord Ashley. Subsequently ho was sent Homo by the Union Company and brought out the steamer Hawea. For over twenty years ho remained in the service of the Union Company, commanding most of their steamers, and remaining in the old Wakatipu for eleven years. Captain Wheeler commanded steamers and sailing vessels' in the coastal and intercolonial trade for over 36 years, and in his day was one of tho most popular skippers trading to Now Zealand. For over a decade he has been living in retirement in Wellington. The deceased was in his eighty-fourth year. DEATH OF MRS. TUCKEY. News of tho death of Mrs. Tuckey, wife of tho Rev. Henry Edward Tuckey, of Wellington, will be received with deep regret by a very wide circle of friends not only in Wellington but throughout tho Wairarapa and surrounding districts. For a long time past she had been in Ul-hchlth, and gradually it became evident that her rallying powers were not equal to the strain that lay before them. Her death took place at her residence in Tinakori Road yesterday. Tho late Mrs. Tuckey was tho daughter of Mr. James Bryant, of Bath (England), and in 1859 she was married to tlio Rev. H. E. Tuckey, and with him came out to Now Zealand in tho ship Ashburton. They landed in Nelson, where Mr. Tuckey took'to a farming and pastoral life, buying a farm at Waimea South, aud leasing a run in Wairau Valley jointly with tho late Mr. F. Blundell. After some years of life tlioro thoy left for Wellington, where Mr. Tuckey conducted a school with Mr. W. S. Hamilton, a school that was afterwards taken over by tho trustees of tho Wellington Collego and Grammar' School.. For several, years thoy lived in Wellington, Mr. Tuckoy occupying tho position of classical master at the Wellington College, and then they loft for Featherston, where they mado their home for several years. A later move was to Rangiora, and in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Tuckoy returned to Wellington, where thoy have lived over since. Tho lat-o Mrs. Tuckoy's personality was a singularly interesting 0110, and she was always keenly interested in life, and conversant with its varying aspects, even in her illness. Her work as a journalist ill Wellington has been well known, and always she kept a high ideal before her in carrying out what she set herself to do. The family consisted of fivo sons and two daughters, ono of whom, Mrs. Chatfield, livos .Wellington.