About Islands People.

Mr. William Keppie, formerly en gineer of the Papuan Government ves sel “Laurabada,” and for many years in the Papuan service, left Sydney by the September “Macdhui” on a holiday visit to the Territory. He became seri ously ill, from peritonitis, and was in too low a condition for an operation when the “Macdhui” reached Port Moresby. He died a few hours after his arrival. The Lieut.-Governor (Sir Hubert Murray), Government officials and leading residents attended the funeral. * • * Mr. J. Nason-Jones, F.G.S., F.R., G.S., M.lnst.P.T., left by the September “Macdhui” for New Guinea, where he will engage in scientific gold prospect ing in hitherto unpenetrated areas. He is a geologist by profession and was in charge of various surveys conducted in New Guinea and Papua by the Anglo- Persian Oil Company on behalf of the Commonwealth Government during the years 1927-1930. He was also geologi cal observer to the Papuan Survey Flight of the R.A.A.F. For six years he was engaged upon geological surveys and oil search in Persia, Russia and Iraq. He is now returning to active field work, after completing eighteen months special study at the University of Vienna. * * * Sir Murchison Fletcher, Governor of Fiji, will leave the colony on Novem ber 18 on seven months’ vacation. Dur ing his absence, the Colonial Secretary (Mr. A. W. Seymour) will administer the affairs of the Colony. * * * Rev. R. I. H. Stockdale, of the Angli can Mission Society, has been appointed to work in New Guineas. He left Brisbane for Samarai, by the “Mac dhui,” on September 24 and spent several weeks in the New Guinea Mis sion there with a view to gaining ex perience of native work before pro ceeding to Rabaul. * * * Mr. D. C. McFadyen, who was well known as a member of the staff of Messrs. Burns, Philp (S.S.) Co., Ltd., has been appointed manager in charge of the firm’s new branch in Pago Pago, American Samoa. This is an interest ing event, not only because Mr. McFad yen is well and favourably known in the Central Pacific Islands, but also be cause this appears to be the first branch of the Burns, Philp (S.S.) Co., Ltd. to be established in territory out side of the British Empire. Mr. Mc Fadyen, therefore, becomes something of an ambassador as well as a commer cial manager. * * * Mr. A, N. Lussick, of Kavieng, New Ireland, with his wife and family, ar rived in Sydney by the “Macdhui” on September 14, on a brief holiday. * * * Mr. C. J. Thompson, Kavieng (N.G.). manager for Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co., Ltd., is at present spending short leave in Sydney. * * Mr. J. G. Nelson, M.L.C., of Papua, arrived in Sydney by the “Montoro" early in October.

Nurse Clark, of the Methodist Mis sionary Society, returned to her work among the Indians in Fiji, after a short holiday in Sydney. She sailed by the ''Niagara” on September 15. * * * Mr. A. H. Wilson, Government Sur veyor, Solomon Islands, is absent on long leave. * * * Nurse Dorr, of the Methodist Mission in New Britain, returned to Melbourne recently, as she has retired from active mission work. She spent five years in New Britain. * * * Bishop H. Newton, of New Guinea, arrived in Sydney on September 14, and later addressed meetings on behalf of the Australian Board of Missions. * * * Mr. A. F. Grimble, M.A., C.M.G., Resident Commissioner in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, arrived in Sydney on September 5, en route to London. He has spent 18 years in the Pacific, and is not returning there.

Mr. Harry Bond, a well-known planter and owner of a plantation in the Arawe district. New Britain, was drowned when his schooner “Aliwa” was wrecked near Siassi Island. Mr. Bond was one of the oldest and most respected residents of the Territory, having lived there for nearly 20 years. He spent most of his time at Arawe, on the south coast of New Britain, where he was formerly the manager of Arawe Plantation for the German firm H.S.A.G.. and later for the Expropriation Board. * * * Mr. C. G. Kilner, of Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co.’s staff at Kavien, New Guinea, has been transferred to Kieta to relieve Mr. A. E. Ray, who left the Territory for Svdney by the September “Macdhui.” * * * Mr. Fred. Green, of Gizo, Solomon Is lands, came south by the “Mataram,” which reached Sydney on October 13.

Mr. Green, who is very well-known throughout the B.S.I., is on a combined, business and holiday trip. * * * Captain J. M. Rondahl, a former well known resident of New Guinea, died at his home in Roseville, New South Wales, on September 24. He was born in Sweden in 1860 and arrived in the Territory in 1891, as mate of a small schooner. Several years later, after an adventurous career, including trading in the Fead Islands, Captain Rondahl commenced trading at Kabanga and later bought the Kabakaul property, which has been his business head quarters ever since. He had control of various plantations at Kulon and Ma kurapau until he disposed of his pro perties in 1929 and retired to live in Sydney.