About Islands People.

Rev. Louis Cochard, M.S.C., a former missionary in Papua, died in Sydney on July 20. He was born at Nantes, France, in 1870, and after completing his studies went to Papua, where he was ordained by Bishop Navarre.

Father Cochard was attached to the Order of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and served in Papua for eleven years, before ill-health compelled him to retire to Australia.

Pastor A. G. Stewart, vice-president of the Australasian Union of Seventh Day Adventists, Wahroonga, New South Wales, accompanied by his wife, re turned to Sydney by the “Makura” from Papeete on July 29. They have been on a holiday visit to Tahiti.

Dr. T. C. Backhouse, medical officer of the Department of Public Health in New Guinea, arrived in Sydney by the “Nankin” on July 19. He is on fur lough.

Mr. Jean Cochet, Australian general manager of Messageries Maritimes Com pany, returned to Sydney from Papeete by the “Makura” on July 29. He was in Tahiti for two months organising a new inter-island service for his com pany.

Mr. Phillip James Bayliss, an old identity of New Guinea, died at Kokopo on July 10, after an attack of blackwater fever. Mr. Bayliss, who was forty-nine years of age, had served in the Boer War and the Great War. He came to the Territory after the war and for some time managed Soraken Plantation and Choiseul Plantations, Ltd. Leaving these plantations, he went to the Mo robe Goldfields, where his brother is at present settled, and later joined the staff of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and

Co., and had been stationed at Ko kopo, on Raniolo Estate, for the past few years.

Mr. W. M. Reid, prominent Sydney export merchant, who has been visiting Tahiti, arrived in Sydney by the “Ma kura” on July 29. A proposal was on foot in Tahiti, he told the Sydney newspapers, to place a tariff on Aus tralian and New Zealand goods enter ing the colony. Mr. Reed thought that this tariff was a retaliatory measure arising out of the recent Ottawa Con ference decisions.

Mr. Lloyd Averill, son of Bishop Averill, of Auckland, N.Z., recently ar rived in the Solomon Islands by the “Mataram.” He is now working as a mission teacher under Rev. Dr. Fox, at the Melanesian Mission School, at Ugi.

Rev. James Edwards, of Yorkshire, England, arrived in Sydney by the ‘Mooltan” on July 13. He is en route, to the Solomon Islands, where he will be engaged in Melanesian Mission work under the supervision of Bishop Badde ley, whom he knew in Yorkshire.

Mr. E. Nixon-Westwood, well known in connection with Pacific merchandis ing, sailed from Sydney for London this month. He will join, in London, the well known publishing house of Mr.

John Coker, and will make his future home in London.

Mr. “Tommy” O’Dea, well known and popular manager and chief pilot of Holden’s Aerial Transport Services, Ltd., New Guinea, was in Sydney in July, where he was married, at St. Stephen’s Church, to Miss Gibson. The bride and bridegroom left by the last “Montoro” for their home in Salamaua, T.N G.

Rev. M. K. and Mrs. Gilmour have ar rived in Sydney from Papua, to live in retirement, after 32 years in the Method ist Mission field. They ministered to the people of the d’Entrecastreaux Group and islands to the east of Papua. Mr.

Gilmour told a newspaper reporter that in the early days he saw a good deal of fighting, and there was still cannibalism in some parts; but he explained that in the last 30 years great work had been done by Sir William McGregor and then Sir Hubert Murray in the pacification of the natives, missions and Government service working harmoniously together.

Mr. William James Ewins, of Suva, Fiji, died at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital on July 30, after a long illness.

Born in New South Wales in 1859, he went to Fiji at the age of 18, and com menced trading and planting at Tavenui.

Later, in 1898, he entered the Fiji Public Service, and held various Government, positions until he retired in 1912. He is survived by his wife and four sons.