Levi Sarten

Taranaki Herald 5 January 1903
MR LEVI SARTEN.
Another of those personalities who link the present with the early days of the settlement, passed away on Sunday morning in the person of Mr Levi Sarten. His death came as a surprise to most of his friends, as he was aparrently in good health till a few days ago. He was at Waitara on Tuesday last, but ori returning home that day to his home at Tikorangi he was taken sudaenly ill, the symptoms, being so serious that medical aid was summoned.. It was thought that Mr Sarten was suffering from weakness of the heart's action, and there were other indications that his , constitution was breaking up. He lingered on till Sunday morning when he passed quietly away at the age of '62.
Mr Sarten came here with his parents in the ship William Bryant, which reached here on May 31st, 1841 with the pioneer settlers of Taranaki. He was then an infant and had the unique clistinction. of being the first white child landed here, as his mother owing to her health was landed some time before the other passengers, and Mr Sarten was landed with her. After leaving school Mr Sarten was associated with his father, who was a wheelwright, and. . learned the trade. On the outbreak of the Maori rebellion Mr Sarten, in common with all otiher Taranaki youths; took his part in suppressing the outbreak. He was a member of the Volunteer Band, and also took an active part in the field in the operations against the Maoris. On the conclusion of the war Mr Sarton engaged in various pursuits, and finally took up land, in the special settlement for volunteers founded at Tikorangi where he resided till the time of his demise. The Maori Wars was a disastrous one to the Sarten family, as his eldest brother, John, died of wounds received, at the L. Pah. near Waitara, and a younger brother, Joseph, was killed by Maoris in, the lane near the Te Henui church while looking after some cattle. Although engaged iri farmirig pursuits Mr. Sarten found time to take an interest in local politics. He was, during his career, a member of the various bodies in his own district, and had also been a member, of the Clifton County Council. It was mainly through his efforts that a bridge was built over the Waitara river at Tikorangi. He was also an ardent worker and supporter of the.annual regatta held at Waitara. For several years he was one of the Government nominee members on the New Plymouth Harbour Board, and held the position at the time of his death. During is period of service on the Board Mr Sarten was a persisterit advocate of what is known, as " the hole In the wall." His argument was that the easiest way to get rid of the sand that had accumulated on the other side of the mole was to make an opening in the base of the work, and so allow the sand to pass through to the inner beach, and thus allow it to travel eastward along the beach as it had done before the mole was erected. He never lost sight of his theory, which he .advanced on every favourable occasion, and contended that the day would come when he would be proved that his contention was correct. He was also a warm advocate of harbour extension, and supported the principle of carrying out the mole by rubble work, the cost to.be paid out of the revenue of the Board. The effect of such work he contended would in time enable the Board to discontinue the dredging of the sand that had been carried round ihe mole and deposited in deep water, thus forming a sand bank. Mr Sarten's father died during the Maori war, but his mother lived to a great age, having only predeceased her son by a few years. Deceased married Miss M. A. Moon, fifth daughter of the late Mr Philp Moon, and is survived by his wife and six sons and two daughters, who will lament the death of a .good husband and father. Mr James Sarten, of Tikorangi, and Mr W. Sarten. of New Plymouth, are brothers of deceased..
The deceased interred in the Tikorangi Cemetery this afternoon, when there was a large and represenative gathering of settlers and townpeople to pay a last tribute of respect to his memory.
Among those who went out from town were Mr Connett, the chairman, Mr Rennell, the secretary, and Messrs Price and Ward, members of the Harbour Board; Captain Hood, Harbourmaster: the Mayor, Mr Dockrill, Mr E. M. Smith. M.H.R., Mr W. T. Jennings, M.H.R., Mr J. Butterworth, and many, others.