The Late John Bourke.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 592, 9 April 1891, Page 3

The Late John Bourke.

After the ordinary business at the Harbor Board had been concluded on Tuesday evening Mr DeLautour said be would like, at tbe first ordinary tnee'ing uf:,er the death of Mr Bourke, to say a few words as to the sad loss which they all deplored. He had been connected with Mr Bourke—speaking from a public point of view—for a good many years, aa Mayop and as solicitor to the Harbor Board, and solicitor to the Board at. a time when it was in troubled waters, and it had always seemed to him that the Board was extremely indebted to the Secretary for his loyalty and impartiality, in at all times, in spite of all agi'atiouand feelings aud what his own opinions might have been, un flinchipgly carrying out the Board’s will. He was a most exemplary servant of the Board and Borough Council. Io the matter of the Board's book keeping tbe law laid down had been loyally followed. The way in which he done his work, io face of tbe difficulties created by legal enactments, did him the greatest credit as an accountant, as well as Secretary, In the Borough Council no one could fail to see how entirely the successive Mayors confided the buriness ot the Borough in the hand* of tbe Clerk, and the most Ihorounh satisfaction had always been given. Mr Bourke’s high private character, he felt, influenced him in his public work, aud they were not only indebted to him for the aeridnity with which he bad carried out his public duties, but for having raised the tone of such service—be had placed the service of local bodies on a high footing, and much would be expected from those who came after him. He did not care to ray anything of Mr Bourke’s loss to the community as a private citizen, but at the same time he might say that no one who like himself and all the members of the Board who had shared hie personal friendship, and taken part with him in friendly rivalry in promoting all that could be for the well-being of the people, could fail to recognise that in bis untimely death they had lost a man who would not readily be replaced in tbeir midst. The Chairman also paid a high testimony to Mr Bourke’s qualifications as a public officer, and bis estimable qualities as a private citizen, and aaid that they all must deeply regret his untimely death. He added that that might be g suitable time for the Board to send a letter of condolence to the sorrowing widow. Messrs Arthur and ISievsrrigbt also spoke, saying they entirely agreed with all that had been said by Mr DeLautour and the Chairman, and it was unanimously resolved that a 1 tter of condolence should be sent to Mrs Bourke.