OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 51, 26 February 1943, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR JAMES HEALY

In the death of Mr James Healy which occurred on Friday last (February 19) a link with. Whakatane's early growth and expansion was severed.

Mr Healy who came from Australia where he was born some. 43 years ago, was a roading contractor in this district and completed, many of the earlier County Hi? work took him from Galatea to TePuke and Maketu and he it waswho contracted to put in the Hillcrest route to Ohope, which had hitherto been only accessible by means of the Maraetotara Gorge.

After a few ■, years mining at Waihi, Mr Healy oame to. the Eastern Bay. settling first at Opotiki and 32 years, ago, in Whakatane. His road ..and quarry contracting gave him a wide experience' of these parts and many were the yarns lie could spin of his experiences. Some te.n years ago he 4 retired from active work and lived in a state of semi retirement at his home in Louvain Street. He was greenkeeper for the Whakatane Bowling Club for some years and ailso was keenly interested in the game. He was also a leading local supporter of. the Labour Party and gave very active assistance to the branch at the time of the late Lieutenant Hultquist's candidature..

He leaves a widow and three children—Messrs E. T„ Healy and A l . J. Heaily of Auckland, and Miss Avis Healy of Whakatane. There <?re three grand children.