CONTRACTOR KILLED

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1928, Page 1

CONTRACTOR KILLED

HY KALI. OF STONH. (Grey Argus). 'When nearing the completion of a long and hazardous undertaking a distressing fatality occurred yesterday afternoon whereby Mr James Bourke, contractor for the Mabel’s Bay section of the Grey moot h-AYest-port coastal road met bis death by a fall of stone. At 3.30 p. in. two big shots were placed in a terrace about sixty feet high. When the shots exploded it was seen that the top of the terrace had not come away, and Mr Bourke accompanied by one of his men. Mr McMillan, climbed up to select a suitable spot to put another shot in. While they were climbing Mr Bourke noticed the top start to move and immediately sang out to McMillan to get clear. The latter reached a place of safety, but Mr Bourke failed to clear and some five or six hundred tons of rock crashed oil him. It was a few minutes liefore the party realised what had happened but when it did they immediately extracted the unfortunate man. to find that life was extinct.

Had the deceased waited a few minutes longer the top would have fallen in and there would have been no necessity to climb the terrace to select a place for another shot. A sad part about the fatality is that this was the last big obstacle to be lemoved. as after that there were no more high points and the work would have been comparatively easy.

The late Mr Bourke was one of the most well-known identities of the Coast, and was recognised as one ot the ablest road contractors in these parts. The nature of his work often brought him .into dangerous places, hut he was never known to shirk responsibility. Born 54 years ago at Barry town, deceased lived most of his life on Die Coast. His wife predeceased him eight years ago. He leaves four soils and one daughter, namely .lames (Bod dy‘town). George (Gisborne). Clarence (Cobden). John (Cobden) and Miss Pauline Bourke of the staff of the Dominion Hotel. Air E. Bourke. (County roadman. Tnnngahua), is a brother, and Mesdames W. Williams .(Cobden), H. 3. Williams (Greymouth. White (Motueka) and Low (Wellington) l are sisters of the deceas--0(1.