Pike mine: Tribute to councillor

Grey District Council remembered one of its own today.

Milton Osborne, 54, a district councillor, was one of the 29 men killed in the Pike River coal mine disaster.

Today the council paid tribute to him at a meeting in Greymouth.

Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said the councillors had written out a motion and sent their sympathy to Mr Osborne's wife and children, to say that they had not forgotten him.

"Then we placed a rose on the table where he sits," Mr Kokshoorn told Campbell Live.

"We tilted his chair in and eventually we will put a flag, drape it across, in respect for his fantastic effort and contribution to the Grey District Council."

Mr Kokshoorn said the people of district were subdued today.

"They know that they have got to rally again ... because we've got some dark days coming.

"We've got to get in behind families now, we've got to support them, they've got some real, real tough times coming and we've got to make sure our West Coast families are there for them every step of the way."

- NZPA