| Notes |
The Evening Post (Wellington) of 2 August 1900 reported as follows:
'By recent advices we notice that Mr H L Larchin has passed the Board of Trade examination in London for master of a foreign-going ship. He is a New Zealander, and served his apprenticeship to the sea with the New Zealand Shipping Company, joining the Wairoa in 1887. He remained in the company’s employ for some time after passing as mate and later joined the ship Wellington. At the time of his going up for his examination as master Mr Larchin was chief officer of the Brunel Company’s sailing ship Brunel. He is the son of Mr T Larchin, chief Clerk in the Customs Department.'
Henry was included in the 1900 Captain’s Register of Lloyds of London as Henry Louis Larchin, born in Nelson in 1872.
However, his maritime career was short. The Taranaki Herald of 27 Dec 1907 carried a death notice for Henry Larchin:
'DUNEDIN Dec 26. H. Larchin, second officer of the steamer Delphic, died very suddenly on board the steamer Kumara while watching the regatta at Port Chalmers today. He was leaning over a rail amidships watching the events when he suddenly fell backwards and died in a few minutes. Dr Barrie was on board and at once rendered medical aid, but Larchin never regained consciousness. It is understood that he has relatives in Wellington'.
A Coroner's Inquest was held on 27 Dec 1907 and the Coroner's report is dated the same day.
William Barrett Perkins, Chief Officer of the S.S. "Delphic" and Frederick John Borrie, a medical practitioner, gave depositions which are included with the Coroner's report. Parts of the depositions are almost illegible.
Perkins was sworn in and said:
'I am the Chief Officer of the S.S. "Delphic" now lying at Dunedin. The deceased Harry Lewis Larchin, whose body I identify, was second officer of the same ship. He was a single man and was born in Nelson, his father an officer in H. M. Customs resides in Wellington N.Z. I have been shipmate with the deceased about 16 months. He always enjoyed good health and I never heard him make any complaint of any kind of ailment. Yesterday forenoon we went down to Pt Chalmers to attend the Regatta there, and he and I went on board the S.S. "Tarawera" and to witness an **** we walked round **** ***** to the "Kumara" went on board and stood with our hands on the rail. We had stood only a minute or two when he fell right along side of me; full length on the deck, and never moved afterwards. I untied his collar and clothing and Dr Borrie was summoned and came within a minute or so and tried to induce artificial respiration but without avail. Deceased showed no signs of breathlessness or of being put out in any way when he came on board the "Kumara"..
[Much illegible]
His age was 35 years.
He did not complain of heat or of anything else.'
Wm B. Perkins
The doctor's deposition was:
'Frederick John Borrie being **** **** ***** a duly qualified medical practitioner serving at Port Chalmers. Yesterday the 26th Decr I was on board the S.S. "Kumara" witnessing the Port Chalmers Regatta. about 3.20pm I was summoned and ****** to where deceased was lying on his back on board of the "Kumara". He was gasping, but I could feel no pulse. I used the usual means of restoring artificial respiration but with no avail and presumed life to be extinct.
[next words difficult to decipher]
I found the internal organs to be all healthy except the kidneys, which were enlarged and cystic.
[sentence difficult to decipher]
... this condition being brought on by the heat of the day accelerated by the fast walk he had taken just before his seizure. I consider the cause of death was "heat apoplexy" *** **** **** **** ******** by the condition of the kidneys.'
F. J. Borrie M.R.C.S. etc
The Coroner. Charles C. Graham, found that Harry Lewis Larchin died at Port Chalmers on the 26th day of December 1907 the death being wholly due to natural causes viz "heat apoplexy".
Administration of Henry's estate
On 28 Jan 1908, in the Supreme Court at Wellington, Henry's father Thomas said that Henry had never been married, and at the time of his death was employed as Second Officer on the steamship "Delphic" trading between England and New Zealand, and that he kept all his papers and personal effects on the ship. Thomas had searched among the papers and effects, and found no trace of a will - he believed that Henry had died without having made a will. The value of the effects did not exceed £400. Thomas said he would provide a full account of Henry's estate by 28 Jul 1908 and an account of his administership by 28 Jan 1909. On 29 Jan 1908 an application was made in the Supreme Court for administration to be granted to Thomas - it was granted on the same day.
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1872 - 1907 (35 years)
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