How Well-known N. Hebrides

Lost From Launch

How Well-known N. Hebrides Man Met His Death.

PARTICULARS have only recently been received of a most unfortunate accident which occurred last April, by which a well-known and popular resident of the New Hebrides lost his life.

Mr. Roderick K. Morris, planter and trader, of South Santo, who had been a resident of the Group for 27 years, left Santo on April 5 to cross to Port Patteson, in the Banks Group. He was travelling in his half-decked launch, with a native crew. He was a most adventurous seaman, and had made many risky trips in that launch. He has been known to take a small boat, loaded to the gunwales with goods, from Santo to Vanikoro, in the Santa Cruz islands—a distance of 600 miles.

There was a tremendous sea running that night; and, about midnight, the launch was overwhelmed. Six natives, in the dinghy, got ashore on Pakea, near Vanua Lava. Mr. Morris, a white child (a ward of one of the residents), a Chinese, and one of the native crew, disappeared, and were never seen again.

Mr, Morris left a wife and four chil dren. Mr. Morris is one of a group in a photograph reproduced on page 7.