ENGINEER’S DEATH

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 56

ENGINEER’S DEATH

SIR JOHN NORTON-GRIFFITHS.

A TRAGEDY OF FEAR.

LONDON, September 29. The Daily Herald says: “Behind the Griffiths tragedy lies a story of the world-famous engineer’s fear that miscalculation in connection with the Assuan dam contract might injure his personal reputation. He was also distracted by the knowledge that the contract might be taken out of his hands by the Egyptian Government, in which event there was a possibility that he might be held responsible for the difference of £300,000 between his estimate and the next highest tender. Indeed, the engineers of the world wore staggered by the smallness of Sir John's tender, which was nearly £1,000,000 less than the highest, which was £3,000,000. After the acceptance of the tender suspicion arose that Sir John had allowed only for ordinary steel on work on which rustless steel was required. During the past week Sir John s friends in England had been making desperate efforts to save the situation.”

A VERDICT OF SUICIDE. ALEXANDRIA, September 30. A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned -t the inquest on Sir John Norton-Griffiths.