Notes From Fiji

Well-known Priest’s Tragic Death

From Our Own Correspondent.

Suva, May 22.

OP all priests in Fiji, few were more popular and better esteemed than the Rev. Father Trillot. He had been in the Colony for some 40 years and, besides being parish priest, was for some years principal of the Catholic Training College for catechists at Cawaci, on the Island of Ovalau. Some six years ago he was transferred to the Naiserelaig mission, on Viti Levu Bay. There he devoted his best endeav ours to encouraging his natives in agri culture and, as a result, he was able to place for two years agricultural exhibits in the Suva Show, which were generally regarded as the chief attrac tion, or nearly so.

The public was, therefore, greatly shocked to hear of his tragic death.

A native passing the house about 9 p.m. found him lying unconscious in flames on the verandah. The alarm was quickly raised and the body, which was badly charred, taken to a place of safety. In spite of the fearful burns life had not left his body and every effort was made to save him, but in vain. Ere passing away he was heard to whisper something, but his words could not be understood, and so he left behind him a mystery as to the cause of the mishap. He is believed to have been carrying a lamp when a heart attack caught him and, as he fell, the lamp broke and spread the flames around him. The Mission received the sympathy of all sections in its loss.

Zane Grey’S Visit

To the world wide army who have read Zane Grey’s novels, the chance of meeting the great novelist is one that appeals, and it was quite a gala day in Suva when his beautiful yacht Fisherman ran through the reef pas sage. She arrived on Sunday just as the shadows were creeping up over the mountains across the Bay, and pratique was not given until Monday morning. This was a job that had to be carefully done, as the yacht had come from Tonga, where the dreaded beetle lives and thrives. However, all was well, and on Monday morning the wharf was the centre of attraction for all races. The vessel is of 363 tons, commanded by a fine rotund deep-sea skipper, Captain Gunderson. The yacht has no sails and uses two large Deisel erigtnes, with two auxiliary engines for lighting and power. She carries no less than seven launches, all well en gined and models of efficiency. The two largest weigh each 7 tons, but can be launched within five minutes. The yacht is fitted with all sorts of gadgets and patents for making work easier.

The fittings are the last word in com fort and Grey’s cabin and study— where his two secretaries work —are hung with fine works of art, including some beautiful paintings of fish. The vessel carries a Japanese painter who is also a taxidermist, and he is kept busy adding to a large collection of rare fishes, caught during the voyage.

The visit to Fiji was not for fishing, but for refitting. The Fisherman is leaving for New Caledonia, then to Papua, then the Cocos Island (where Mr. Grey hopes for big fishing) then to Mauritius and Madegascar, and so on across to New Zealand for the big fishing season opening in January. The school children were shown over the deck fittings and launches, and His Excellency the Governor was enter tained on board during the week.

Later news concerning the Fisherman is that, for family reasons, Mr. Zane Grey has decided to go north, en route for home. He left on Tuesday after noon, for Pago Pago, and after that may proceed to the Paumotus, where good fishing is expected. The course may then be to Mexico and home to San Francisco.

The Fiji “Bisley”

The Fiji “Bisley” has recently fin ished, after a most successful gather ing. The chief feature was the fine shooting and the good spirit of sports manship shown throughout the meet ing. All sections —European, Fijian and Indian —proved themselves brothers of the range in every sense. The chief event, of course, was “The Fiji King’s.” the conditions including shooting at 200, 300, 500 and 600 yards. The prize went to Lieut. Hollins Crompton, who scored 192 out of a possible of 200. The winner is a successful young barrister and the son of Mr. R. Crompton, K.C., C.B.E., who donated the handsome cup which is the main prize, although the Government added £20 to the winner’s trophy. The shooting was very good in this event. At 200 yards, no less than four made the “possible.” At the last range five men had only two points between them, namely H. Crompton.

H. Lucena, W. Wilder, W. Butler and R. Christoffersen. Perhaps the most exciting event, outside “The Kine’s” was the “Revolver-deliberate.” In this Crompton. Christoffersen and R. B.

Roberts tied with 88, using a service 45. In shooting off Crompton and Chris toffersen again tied and even when they made yet another attempt the points remained equal. Finally they divided the prize.

H. Lucena won the “Aggregate” and D. Ewins the “Rifle,” and W. Beddoes the “Revolver-snap,” and he won with

8 hits on the moving target. The Nandi team won the “Marks Tiles.”

His Excellency, the Governor, pre sented the trophies on the Sunday afternoon, on the Parade Ground, in the presence of a number of interested spectators of both sexes and all races.

Personal

A number of visitors from overseas have recently arrived, many of them being distinguished scientists. Fiji is attracting the scientists for several reasons, the chief being probably the interesting question of race origin and migration. The most recent visitor is Dr. D. S. Davidson, a noted American anthropologist, who is passing through after spending some considerable time among the Australian aboriginals and who is anxious to know something about the Polynesian. He is securing skulls and other evidences of the race for future study. For this purpose he has been visiting several of the oldest and most warlike strongholds of the past, trying to obtain as much first hand evidence as possible.

Lady Braddon, wife of Sir Henry Braddon, of Sydney, arrived by the Sierra. Mrs. Morris’ visit on this occa Pacific Hotel, where she has been cor dially welcomed by local ladies. It is reported that she may remain here over the winter months —those delight ful months when Suva is at its very best.

Mrs. P. A. Morris, wife of Mr. P. A.

Morris, the Sydney director of Morris, Hedstrom Ltd., also came by the Sierra. Mrs. Morris’ visit on this occa sion is saddened by the fact that since she was here last her sister, Lady Hed strom, has passed away.

A notable arrival was the Hon. A. W.

Seymour, Colonial Secretary, with his wife and family. They have been on vacation and it was understood that Mr. Seymour was not returning to the Colony. His place was filled during his absence, by the Hon. Islay Mc Owan, C.M.G., who returns to his sub stantive post of Secretary of Native Affairs.

Sir George Fuller and Lady Fuller renewed acquaintance with friends in Suva during the short stay of the Aorangi, in which they were returning to their home in New South Wales, after a strenuous three years’ stay in London. Sir George was Agent-General for the Mother State. Both looked re markably well.

The many friends of Mr. Sam E.

Ellis, M.B.E., the well known Suva Soli citor, will be glad to know that he is recovering after a long illness and hopes to be again seen in his office be fore long. Mr. Ellis is President of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers’ Associ ation of Fiji.

His Excellency, the Governor, has a strenuous time. He is most attentive to his public duties and shows a charm ing impartiality to all races, treating them alike in connection with their racial functions. The last occasion was his appearance at the opening of the soccer competition, on Saturday last, of the Indian League Association. There was a large attendance and His Excel lency presented a Challenge Cup for the comnetition, which includes five clubs. The Indian lads have taken to the game with great zest and if their science is a little “thin” at times, their zeal leaves no cause for reproach.

A rather unusual visitor is Zimmy, wonderful man with no legs, who is so strong a swimmer. His progress through the streets is like a royal progress, the natives being particularly struck with wonder as to how he can get along.

He is giving displays of swimming in the Municipal Baths and proposes to try to secure the world’s record in en durance swimming. The Suva Baths, according to Arne Borg, who made his 660 yards record here, are specially suited to such record efforts, as the sea water is much more buoyant than in cooler countries.