Notable Men of The Pacific

AN outstanding citizen of Suva and one who has done much for the de velopment of the Colony of Fiji is the Hon. Hery Marks, C.B.E.

Born in Melbourne in 1861, he ar rived in Fiji when 20 years of age, and has since resided in the Colony. The high regard in which he is held can be judged from the following, which is part of an appreciation published on his recent retirement from the position of Mayor of Suva. It was said that dur ing his career he had been honoured with the confidence of the Government and of his fellow citizens in a very marked degree, and he had come out of public life with a fine record of pub lic service, of fair dealing, of a rich generosity, which had left him rare monuments to his public spirit and liberality.

Besides being the founder of the firm of Henry Marks & Co. Ltd., he has established other big business connec tions. He is at present chairman of directors of the Pacific Insurance Co.

Ltd., and Sturt Ogilvie Ltd., and a director of Morris Hedstrom Ltd., Brown & Joske Ltd., Fiji Oil Mills Ltd., and Fiji Pastoral Co. Ltd. He is also stated to be one of the largest property owners in the Colony.

In civic life he proved an untiring worker. He has been a member of both the Executive and Legislative Councils

of Fiji, and was for many years a member of the Suva Municipal Council.

He has just retired from this last named body.

Mr. Marks always has had the pro gress of the Colony at heart and has been responsible for many useful re forms. It was due to his foresight and effort that the Government introduced a Fiji currency. He has had the hon our of seeing his name on every bank note issued by the Government since the scheme was adopted sixteen years ago.

His generosity has known no bounds.

He and his company donated £5,000 each so that the Fiji Labour Corps could go to the Great War. He later induced the Government to support the erection of a hospital as a War Memor ial and headed the subscription list with £5,000 from himself and £5,000 from his company. When the fine big hospital became a reality, he donated a complete X-ray plant, which has been a great aid to the sick and suf fering.

His services to the Colony were re cognised by His Majesty the King in 1918. However, some greater recogni tion of his sterling citizenship and loy alty is hoped for by the public of Fiji.

In 1883, Mr. Marks married Miss Annie Abrahams. There are two sons and three daughters.

Hon. Henry Marks, C.B.E., late Mayor of Suva