The civil servant and the author

William Seed’s life was one of service to his country and government and that was what was celebrated when he died.
But it’s his connection with a literary giant that makes him extraordinary.
William was born in England in 1827 and came to New Zealand with his family when he was young, landing in Wellington.
He went into the office of Colonel Wakefield, principal agent of the New Zealand company then transferred to the staff of Sir George Grey then on to the Customs Department.
He remained there until 1863 when he was elected to fill the role of undersecretary to the newly formed Defence department then became Collector of Customs before being Head of the department.
He was considered the most able of public servants.
In 1868, he was appointed Auditor-General then went to a Royal Commission to enquire into the keep of Treasury Accounts.
William toured Samoa and in 1975 he went to England where he toured lighthouses.
It was here he met Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson was captivated by William’s description of the South Pacific.
Stevenson was ill, he had chronic bronchitis and suffered from it his whole life.
It was because of William’s accounts of the warm Pacific islands that Stevenson decided to travel, leaving England in 1888 on the yacht Casco and for three years he wandered the seas, stopping at islands.
He had written his pirate adventure Treasure Island already
Stevenson came to New Zealand in 1890 on the Janet Nicoll and was supposed to meet Governor General George Grey but was too ill.
He and his wife Fanny checked into the Star Hotel for the night then returned to the boat. That night it caught fire. Fanny, with great presence of mind saved Stevenson’s trunk of manuscripts before they managed to put the fire out.
Stevenson visited Auckland again in 1893 and then met Grey, all because of a chance meeting with Seed.
Seed died on February 6, 1890 and is buried in Bolton St Cemetery.​