MAN FOUND DEAD IN HUT

Southland Times, Issue 24011, 29 December 1939, Page 6

MAN FOUND DEAD IN HUT

DISCOVERY AT GORE YESTERDAY Mr John O’Keefe, aged about 62 years, a well-known resident of Gore, was found dead in bis hut at the rear of an Ashton street residence about 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. As far as it is known Mr O’Keefe was last seen alive on Saturday night. Mr O’Keefe had been in failing health during the last two years and he was forced to give up his permanent work. When he had not been seen since the end of last week a visit to his hut was paid by a friend, Mr N. Ryan, yesterday afternoon, who found him dead in his bed. - The police were summoned and the body was taken to the morgue for examination by a doctor. Mr O’Keefe had been receiving medical attention for some time and it is understood that an inquest will not be necessary, death having been caused by heart failure.

A native of Australia, Mr O’Keefe came to New Zealand when he was 23 years of age and he was first employed as a farm labourer by the late Mr P. McLean, of Waimumu. For a number of years he was engaged in contract ■work and general farm work, while he also worked on dredges. . It was while he was engaged in this work that he became friendly with the late Mr J. Abernethy, and the Abernethy home was Mr O’Keefe’s home for almost 30 years. Mr O’Keefe was employed for many years in the seed cleaning plants of J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd., and Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., and it was because of failing health that he was forced to give up strenuous work. He took a keen interest in sport, particularly athletics, Rugby and racing. In his youth he played Australian rules in his native country and when he came to Gore he learned to play Rugby. He was also a track sprinter of some ability in his younger days. Mr O’Keefe was not married and it is believed that the only living relation is a brother in Bendigo.