Late Mr. E. F. Reye.

Pioneer of Cocoa in Samoa.

Apia, Aug. 31.

AN old and respected resident of Samoa passed away unexpectedly on August 9, in the person of Mr. E. F.

Reye.

Mr. Reye, who was 59, came of an old patrician family of Hamburg, Germany, which has given the world many dis tinguished scientists and public men, amongst whom may be mentioned Professor Dr. E. Reye (chief medical officer of the large Barnberk Hospital of Hamburg) and the present Burgo master of Hamburg, Herr Kroogmann.

Mr. Reye, after leaving school, served an agricultural apprenticeship and was

appointed to a German company’s cocoa and coffee plantations in Venezuela.

Many and varied were his experiences in the South American state during the incessant revolutions, which often in terfered with the peaceful work of the planters.

On one of his periodical visits to South America the well-known botanist, Professor Preuss, asked Mr. Reye to join him in his investigations of tropical agriculture, and Mr. Reye gladly accepted. The knowledge thus acquired attracted the attention of the D.H. and P.G., who were looking for an expert to advise them in the estab lishment of the cocoa industry in Samoa; and in 1901 Mr. Reye went to Samoa, where he rendered valuable ser vice in planting the first cocoa, accord ing to the old-established methods of South America.

In 1903 Governor Solf, then German Governor of Samoa, appointed Mr. Reye Treasurer of the German Administra tion, which post he occupied till the outbreak of the World War. He was a trusted and much esteemed civil servant and personal confidant of Governors Solf and Dr. Schulz, and drew a pension for his past services until the time of his death. During and after the War Mr. E. F. Reye fol

lowed commercial pursuits as manager of several Apia firms. Unfortunately, he was ailing during the past few years, and unavailingly sought for health in Australia. Weakened by disease he had to undergo an operation in Apia Hospital, and his heart could not stand the anaesthetic and he succumbed be fore the operation was performed.

Mr. Reye married in 1901 Miss Mar garetta Betham, descendant of an old English aristocratic family, with a record extending far into the middle ages. Four sons have dedicated them selves to the ministry of the Seventh Day Adventists, and the only daughter has taken up nursing. Mr. Reye him self was the most prominent member of the Church in Samoa (of which his son, Mr. Raymond Reye, is superinten dent) and he was well-known for his true Christian spirit, and was generally loved and respected. Evidence of this was given at his funeral, when a very large number of friends and relations attended to show their respect for his memory.

Late Mr. Reye.