COAL CREEK TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1930, Page 4

COAL CREEK TRAGEDY

MR JOHN LYES

KILLED IN SLUICING CLAIM

A sluicing claim at Coal Creek about a mile to the llunanga side of Baty’s f arm, ■ was the scene yesterday of a fatal •accident to Mr John Lyes, a resident of Coal Creek district. The claim is one in which the was in the habit of working only oc-y casionally. Yesterday morning he / left his' home early with the ' intend tion of blasting some stumps away from the vicinity of the 1 sluicing face. There was nobody with him but the charge evidently brought down the stumps and a quantity of debris upon him, with fatal effect, possibily some time in the vicinity of midday. Mr John Raty, of Coal Creek, found the body of deceased about 6 o’clock last evening, bearing indications that the fatality had occurred some hours previously. He at once communicated with the police, and later, along with Constable Henrirkson, he brought the body to Greymouth,. where an inquest will be held to-day. . . , ’ .../ Hie late Mr Lyes, ;; who was about 65 years of age,, resided at Coal Creek with his sister, 1 and had been engaged in pastrol pursuits, having a number of shieep on his run. He resided formerly in Westland district, and . at one time was in the employ of th© Hokitika brewery firm of Mandl and Do. as a malster, residing then at lvanieri. He later .went to the Grey district, and had lived at” Cool Creek for a number of years. He leaves a number of nephews and nieces, who are residents of the Ivokatahi district, where his late brothers were formerly well-known.