OBITUARY
LATE CR. C. E. WATKiNS.
The death occurred at his residence, "The Bungalow," Middleton Road, on Monday, July 10, of Councillor Charles Edwin Watkins, at the age of 74 years.
Born is Akaroa, New Zealand, in 1859, the late Cr. Watkins was the son of the late Dr. H. W. D. Watkins. His grandfather was one of the earliest settlers in the Canterbury district, under a scheme under the auspices of the Church of England. Educated in New Zealand, the late Cr. Watkins early showed an aptitude for surveying and civil engineering, and while still in his teens won a prize of £100 for devising a drainage scheme for the Ashburton County Council. Later he was engaged
in mining surveying in New Zealand, and was attracted to Western Australia by the gold discoveries of the 90's. Shortly after his arrival he held the position of manager of Hope's Hill mine at Southern Cross, but later transferred his activities
farther afield, after the discovery of Coolgardie by Bayley. For several years he acted as representative for various London financial interests, and was also engaged on mining surveys for the Government. When gold mining declined, he selected land in the vicinity of Woodanilling, which he farmed for some years, and which he held at the time of his death. He returned to surveying in the agricultural areas for a time, and from 1915 to 1927 was in New South Wales, where he held various positions as an engineer for the Metropolitan Board of Works, Sydney, and as Consulting Engineer for various Shire Councils. In 1927 he returned to Albany, and had resided here continuously since. He represented the East Ward in the Council for nearly five years. During his residence in Albany he designed the storm water drainage system on Mt. Clarence for the Council.
The late Cr. Watkins is survived by a widow and one son, Mr. C. T. Watkins, who practised his profession as a solicitor in Albany for some years, and who is now practising in Perth.
Source: Mount Barker and Denmark Record (Albany, WA), Mon 17 Jul 1933, Page 3.