Obituary

New Zealand Tablet, 22 September 1921, Page 28

Obituary

MR. PATRICK BURKE, SUMNER, CHRISTCHURCH.

• With very sincere regret, the death is recorded of Mr. Patrick Burke, who passed away recently at Sumner. The late Mr. Burke was born in Ireland on January 1, 1854, and was the eldest son of Mr. William Burke, a successful farmer in Galway. When a young man, Mr. Patrick Burke went to Australia, and in 1870 he arrived in .New Zealand, where he -took up farming pursuits. After a trip to Australia in 1877, he was appointed manager of the Caroline Station, where he remained until that property was acquired by the New Zealand Agricultural Company, Ltd. He was retained by the company as station manager until about the year 1880, when he commenced in business for himself as a hotelkeeper in Christchurch. He went into partnership with Mr. J. Chase, and founded the well-known catering firm of P. Burke and Co., which, after several years of successful business, was formed into a limited liability company, and subsequently sold. The firm of P. Burke and Co. were caterers for practically the whole of the large public gatherings (agricultural and racing), and many other bodies and organisations in and around Christchurch.. Mr. Burke was a member of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, in which he took an active interest, being several times president, and also a life member. Up to two years ago he wa£4reasurer of the Provincial Council of the Licensed was also a prominent member of the Hibernian Society. He was twice married, his first wife being the daughter of Mr. James Naughton, of Limerick, Ireland, and"later he married the eldest daughter of Mr. Orton Guthrie Bradley, of Geraldine. He leaves a family of two sons and three daughters to mourn their loss. The late Mr. Burke was always prominent in Catholic movements, and an ever-ready helper in all that tended to advance the interests of his native land. In him, also, the people of Ireland had a consistent sympathiser in their national aspirations.—R.LP.