DEATH OF A VETERAN JOURNALIST.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 178, 7 December 1881, Page 3

DEATH OF A VETERAN JOURNALIST.

: By telegraph from Greytowri Korth, on Saturday, we were informed of the decease- of Richard Wakelin Esq., J.P., and a journalist of some 45 years standing. Mr. Wakelin was known as au eminent, and powerful writer throughout the length and breadth of the Colony, and his effusions have been quoted ih their entirety oft-times by the English Press. ,Etc first cointnenc<d his career m England as a newspar>r repisrter, andin this sphere labored on patiently tor me years but as. he was only, a farmer's son, ms education was very limited indeed, and consequently Mr. Wakelin had a very up hill struggle-- still he was .nsolute, ud though only eavaiDg a bare livelihood, he pushed on, aadiwwtthis sparkling writings gaimd him a higher place m the craft— -that of sub-editor. In this ■ *t^fion^ Mr. Wakelin soon made a destinction f and was at I.enjrtH appointed to ; the editorship of a leading daily paper m New York. Here he remained for . some years, and through bis powerful writings, and the fairness of the same, rose to. an eminent position m society. But like many others, and gener;il!} speaking, our best men — this mnn of great mind, and ability, had his failing — the accused demon di intc seized upon him. jand ttttfoitiHiately Mr. Wakelin was soon reduced: to meagre circurasiances. About this, time, he left New York, and travelled all through: America, ami upon returning was present at, and vmrte largely upon, the great, and well remembered fi e m that city. After a year or two he again retained to England, whire an immigrant vessel was being fitted out for New Zealand, and Mr. Wakelin together with bis wife and children resvilved to emigrat« to the new country. ! He arrived m Wt llington m the earls part of the year 1841, and together with | Messrs T. M'Kei'zie and Bannister, sao' | after started the old Wellington Indepen dent, Mr. Wakelin having charge as editor, and the latter gentlemen per form ing the mechanical portion of the w«rk. In this enterprise, the firm. labored on most successfully fori a number of years. "m fact up to the time when the Zndnpeh <?e«f plant was bought by the old New Zealand; Time* Company, when Mr. s Wakelm went inte* Qveytowp and pur chased from Mr. = B. G riggs, the pla^p tot the Mercury* Here he plantt d biiiiseir, and having considerably enlarged th--paper, be named , it the Watrarapa Standard, and issued it as a tri-weekly joiirna 1 In his business be was attended by sue cess, and as an editor was recognised h\ the Press of New/Zealand as a high authority, and; the veteran journalist Though, as we have sajd,.;|4r. Wakelin was"hdt'by any mean's a highly educated man, still, his abilities as a writer were most remarkable. He possessed a memory of; wonderful magnitude, anc! could form the clearest biaJtory of events which transpiredi/orty. years before. Mr. Wakelin has for some twelve months past, been a great su&rer from general debility, and during the la? eight months^ he has been almost totallj blind, and consequently was incapacitatoc. l from his labors. \He leaves an aged, ant? afflicted- wife, and a la r ge. family to mourn his lossi m, or about his 66th year oihn age. Th'e remains were conveyed to tKt grave at, tv>n o'clock on Sunday afternoon , and;were followed to the grave by' a very "large concourse of residents of Greytpwn and friends from all parts of the Wairarapa and Wellington.