Death of Mr J. Coutts.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43344, 30 June 1908, Page 2

Death of Mr J. Coutts.

It is with sincere regret that we record the death which took place at an early hour on Friday of Mr James Coutts, late Inspector of Mines for the Thames district, at the age of 66. Mr' Coutts made his fijst acquaintance with the Thames field as fir back as 1867, arriving there a few weeks after the first portion of the Thames goldfield was opened for mining. He was intimately associated with the Mining industry, and shared in the vicissitudes that, the district experienced during the stirring times of the early days right up to the present. He was intimately connected in a managerial sense with the Southern Cross, Cambria,’ Trenton, and Caledonian mines. Subsequently when he left the district to take up the position of manager of the Tai Tapu Gold Estates mine at Collingwood, he was presented by the citizens with a handsome gold watch and received a very enthusiastic send-off. In 1897 he was appointed Inspector of Mines and occupied that position until this year, when he resigned owing to failing health. Mr Coutts was pre-deceased by his wife a short time ago. He was a gentleman held in very high esteem and we are sure that the news of his death will be received with genuine regret throughout the goldfields, and the sympathy of all will be extended, to the bereaved family.