Useful Career Ended.

Rev. J. W. Hills Dead.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Dec. 30.

NEWS was received by last mail of the death in London of the Rev. J. W.

Hills, who was one of the best known and most beloved workers of the London Mission Society in Samoa.

The Rev. Hills was in Samoa for 37 years. He was Principal of the L.M.S. boys’ school at Leulumoega until 1911 and principal of Malua Training College till 1924, when he retired and returned to England.

Besides being an expert linguist and writer in the Samoan language, he was specially noted for the deep interest he took in botany and horticulture, and the technical education of the Samoan youth entrusted to his care. He was the first to study the Samoan flora and compile a comprehensive list of Samoan native bush trees and their commercial possibilities. By obtaining seeds and plants from many tropical countries, he created a botanical gardens first at Leu lumoega and later at Malua, devoting much of his time and energy to these special studies. His gardens were an at traction to numerous visitors. He was a deeply religious and inspiring teacher, who is remembered by numerous pupils scattered as missionaries of the L.M.S. over all the Pacific.

On December 18 the Rev. H. S. Per kins at Apia Protestant Church, referred in his sermon to the deceased and his faithful and unselfish work for the church. The congregation stood in silence for a few minutes while the Rev. Per kins offered up a special prayer for the deceased.