Missionary

Death of Pioneer Missionary

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, May 21.

THE death occurred in England in April of the Rev. J. H. Holmes, a well known and respected member of the Lon don Missionary Society, who retired in 1920 from his station at Urika, in the west of Papua, after 22 years’ service in the Territory. He was affectionately known to all his friends as “Homu.”

Mr. Holmes’ work in the west among the savages of the Delta earned him the re spect of all the pioneers in the district.

Erecting a station in the low swampy flats of the Purari upon which grew coconuts and produce, was a task few men could undertake. His influence among the natives, to whom he taught useful employ ment, is felt to this day.

His early home on Urika was a mar vellous achievement. Built with pit-sawn material, it stood facing the sea, sur rounded by coconut palms, lawns, and decorative shrubs, where before only man grove and nipa palms waved in the thick' slush and mud.

He was the author of three books deal ing with the Islands—“By Canoe to Can nibal Land,” “Way Back in Papua,” and

“In Primitive New Guinea.” The latter volume is very well-known and contains a learned introduction by Professor Had don, the famous anthropologist of Cam bridge University, England.