OBITUARY

MR P. J. BURNS

A well-known resident of Lyttelton, Mr Patrick James Burns, died in the Ashburton Public Hospital yesterday morning. , , . Mr Burns was the son of Captain and Mrs W. Burns, and was born .in Lyttelton 61 years ago. On leaving school he entered the employ of Andersons, Ltd,, Lyttelton, and had an unbroken period of service with that company of more than 47 years. In 1007 he was appointed foreman boilermaker, and in recent years he had been general foreman of works, and, at times, acting-works manager. His high skill as a boilermaker and ship repairer was known throughout New Zealand and also in shipping circles 8 “Paddy” Burns was probably the best half-back to represent Canterbury in Rugby football, and he also played in this position for the South Island and New Zealand. A member of the Albion Football Club, he was the pivot on which the famous Burns-Gray-Weston combination scored so many bniliant tries in ,a period between 1905 and 1911. This combination is recognised as the best to play for a club team in Canterbury, and in representative games the three were kept together. He played against the Anglo-Welsh team in 1908, and was a member of the New Zealand team that toured Australia in 1910. He Canterbury in 50 matches, and the South Island against the North in six games. When he retired from active play, Mr Burns acted as coach to junior teams in the Lyttelton district, and he also gave valuable tuition to the Manst team in the 1918-23 period. Mr Burns was an enthusiastic worker for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Lyttelton, and took a promment part in the arrangements for the rebuilding of the church in recent years He is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Catherine Murray. ,