Fiji Dictionary

Completion of Rev. W. A.

Heighway’s Work

From Our Own Correspondent.

SUVA, July 20.

AN article in the “Pacific Islands Monthly” of June, referring to the manuscript of a Fiji dictionary prepared by the late Rev. William Aitken Heigh way, and of which, it was stated, nothing had been heard since the death of Mr.

Heighway some years ago, when it was handed over to the Methodist Mission authorities in Suva, was referred to the Rev. R. L. McDonald, chairman of the Methodist Mission in Fiji, by the Fiji correspondent of this paper. Mr. Mc- Donald made the following statement: “This article is not altogether correct as to its facts. A committee was appoint ed by the Government of Fiji to revise Hazlewood’s dictionary, and, at the re quest of this committee, the Rev, Mr.

Heighway undertook a portion of that task. Other divisions of the work were undertaken by members of the Methodist Mission staff in Fiji. Mr. Heighway was unable to complete his work before his death, and his relatives have handed the documents to the Rev. C. O. Lelean to complete.

“Mr. Lelean just lately retired from work in Fiji, and is resident in Victoria, and we understand that he is now giving time to this work.

“Mr. Lelean was for over 30 years in the Methodist Mission in Fiji, in charge of the large Teachers’ Training Institute at Davuilevu, and, of course, in connection with his heavy duties there, work of such magnitude as the preparation of this dic tionary entailed could not be done in addition to his ordinary missionary duties.

“In the meantime stocks of Hazlewood’s dictionary are available in Fiji, and are adequate for all present needs.”