About Islands People.

The Right Rev. W. H. Baddeley, the new Bishop of Melanesia, arrived in Sydney from Auckland on January 10.

He left the following day by the “Ma taram” for the Solomon Islands, accom panied by the native crew of the wrecked mission vessel “Southern Cross.” • • ♦ Mr. Robert Easthope, a respected and popular resident of Samoa, died at his home in Apia on December 16. Born in 1846, he went to the Tongan Group in the early ’seventies and for some time was engaged in trading for the German firm, the D.H.P.G., with whom he re mained for 16 years. In 1894 he arrived in Apia, Samoa, and acquired the Club Hotel. Later, he took over the Tivoli Hotel and the International Hotel. For the past 15 years he was attached to the Customs Department at Apia. * * * Rev. Mark Kerediredi, a priest of the Anglican New Guinea Mission in Papua, died on December 2, after a short ill ness. He was ordained deacon in 1926 and priest in 1930, by the Bishop of New Guinea (Dr. Newton) and was assistant to the Rev. C. W. Light, at Boianai. * * * Mr W E. Russell, who is well-known in Fiji and Tonga, left Apia, Samoa, by the “Waipahi” on December 5 for Auck land. With his.wife, he had been visit ing their daughter, who is the wife of Mr D. R. Eden, manager of Vailele Plantation. Mr. Russell was formerly District Commissioner in the Fiji Gov ernment service and later British Con sul and Agent at Nukualofa, Tonga. * * * Captain G. B. Landenberger, Governor of American Samoa, accompanied by his wife and a party of officials, arrived at Apia, Western Samoa, on December 10.

The visit was unofficial and an enjoy able time was spent visiting the Ifi Ifi and Malifa schools. The party returned to Pago Pago by the U.S.S. “Ontario” on December 13.

Rev. J. W. Hills, a member of the London Missionary Society, who was formerly engaged in mission work in Samoa, died in England on October 31.

He came to Samoa in 1887 and until 1911 was Principal of the Boys’ School at Leulumoega. He was transferred to the Malua College and was Principal there until he retired in 1924 and returned to London. He was an expert linguist and had written several books in the Samoan language. * * * Mr. W. McBride, the Secretary for Native Affairs, left Apia, Samoa, by the “Makoa” on December 5, on an official inspection of the Tokelau Group. He re turned to Apia on December 17 and re ported that the health conditions of the people in the Group were excellent. * * * Among the passengers who arrived in Sydney by the “Macdhui” on December 14, was a party of Methodist mission aries. In the party were Rev. and Mrs.

H O. Williams, Ubiua, and Rev. and Mrs. G. P. Lassam, East Cape, Papua; Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Pearce. Malakuna, and Miss M. W. Woolnough, Raluana, New Guinea.

Major C. B. Joske, managing director of Brown and Joske, Ltd., of Suva, and president of the Fiji Banana Associa tion, arrived in Sydney by the “Niagara” on December 31. He was accompanied by Mr. A. E. Barnes, Director of Agri culture in Fiji, and they are cooperating in making arrangements for the new distribution of Fiji bananas in Australia. * * * Rev. F. Browning arrived in Sydney by the “Mataram” on December 30. He has spent eight years at Siota, Solomon Islands, and is on his way to Bedford, England, to be married. With his wife he will return to the Solomons, after a short holiday in England. * * * Captain A. J. Donovan, who has been harbour master at Thursday Island for the past three years, has been appointed to the pilot service at Brisbane, and his place will be taken by Captain J. Smi bert, of Rockhampton, Mr. John Maynard Hedstrom, son of Sir Maynard Hedstrom, passed his final law examination at Melbourne Univer sity and received his LL.B. degree in December. He was also awarded a blue for hockey, he will be articled to a Melbourne firm of solicitors and called to the Bar about the end of the year. * * * Mr. Chas. W. Sturgeon, wireless operator at Aitape, is in Sydney on leave. He went to the Territory as junior clerk at Bita Paka when the Edie Creek rush began and, in his spare time, studied wireless telegraphy. He has been in the service of Amalgamated Wireless for six years. He speaks French, Span ish and Italian. * * * Mr. C. C. Beckett, operator of the radio station at Wau, is at present in Sydney on holiday. He was employed as radio officer at Bita Paka in 1918 and since then has been stationed at Rabaul, Kavieng, Morobe, Aitape, Edie Creek and Wau. Mr. Beckett will visit Mel bourne and Brisbane before returning to Wau. * * * Sir Aldo Castellani has been ap pointed director-in-chief of the Ross In stitute for Tropical Diseases, in succes sion to the late Sir Ronald Ross, reports The Times. * * * Sir Joseph Carruthers, who made fre quent visits to Fiji and Honolulu, died in Sydney after a long illness. Sir Joseph made a lifetime study of the voyages of Captain Cook, and it was largely through his efforts that the memorials to Cook were erected at Kurnell (Bot any Bay) and at Keala Kekua Bay, Ha waii, where Cook was killed. * * * Captain E. J. Stevens has joined the flying staff of Holden’s Air Transport Co. at Salamaua. He formerly piloted three-engined Fokkers for Australian National Airways on the Sydney-Mel bourne and Sydney-Brisbane routes. He was also on the staff of New England Airways and was a well-known war pilot. * * * Mr. H. Forbes, accountant in Port Vila (New Hebrides) for Messrs. Burns, Philp (S.S.), Ltd., is at present in Sydney on leave.

Mr. G. F. Grahame, mayor of Suva, arrived on a holiday visit to Sydney by the “Mariposa” on January 6. He is ac companied by Mrs. Grahame. * * * Mr. W. A. Freeman, chairman of Bu lolo Gold Dredging Co., Ltd., left Sydney for London via America by the “Mari posa” on January 14. * * * M. P. Laborde, editor of the New Cale donia newspaper “La France Australe,’” arrived in Sydney on January 11 by the “Laperouse” from Noumea. * * * The Rev. J. W. Burton, general sec retary of the Methodist Missionary So ciety, arrived in Sydney from Fiji by the “Mariposa” on January 6. * * * Mr. R. D. Blandy, Assistant British.

Commissioner in the New Hebrides, accompanied by Mrs. Blandy, arrived in Sydney by the January “Morinda,” en route for England on long leave. * * * His Honour C. M. Murray-Aynsley, Chief Justice of Tonga, has been ap pointed also Judge of the Land Court. * * * Judge de Jersey Carey, a member of the Condominium Joint Court in the New Hebrides, is expected to arrive in Sydney on leave next month. * * * Captain Fitch, managing director of Papuan S.S. Trading Co., Ltd., and Mr.

J. R. Clay, a well-known merchant of Papua, both of whom have been in Syd ney on a brief visit, will return to Port Moresby by the December “Montoro.”