FAMOUS ENGINEER’S END

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 240, 29 September 1930, Page 5

FAMOUS ENGINEER’S END

NILE DAM CONTRACTOR. FOUND DEAD IN BOAT. Cairo, Sept. 27. Under somewhat extraordinary circumstances, the death took place here of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Norton-Griffiths, governing director of the well-known London firm of Norton-Griffiths & Co., public works contractors. Lieut.-Colonel Sir John NortonGriffiths was seen to go out in a small boat from Ramleigh in the morning. Ho paddled for some distance and then observers ashore noticed the boat drifting, apparently unoccupied. Swimmers hastened to the spot and a police launch examined the boat. They found Sir John Norton-Griffiths in the bottom dead, with a shot in the right temple. Sir John Norton-Griffiths camo to Egypt to clean up the dispute between the Egyptian Government and his firm regarding the Assouan dam heightening contract, the British engineers alleging that it was impossible to carry on in the face of constant pin-pricks and obstruction arising from the incompetence of inexperienced Egyptian inspectors. The work was suspended last week. Sir John Norton-Griffiths stated that no other course was open for the protection of the firm’s reputation. The Egyptian Government alleged that the work was not proceeding at a proper speed. It. was known that Sir John was very worried. ADVENTUROUS LIFE. (United Press association—By CableCopyright.l London, Sept. 27. Lieut.-Colonel Sir John NortonGriffiths, public works contractor, was 50 years of age. Though most famous for blowing up Messines and destroying the Rumanian oil wells, Sir John lived a most adventurous life. He sailed for Australia in a windjammer when 17, ran away from his ship, and remained some time in Australia. He earned the name of “Empire Jack,” for work dono during the war. The London manager of tho firm this morning received a cable from Sir John, reporting the state of certain negotiations, but received no hint that there was anything untoward.