About Islands People

Mr. A. L. Braisby, Chief of Police in Samoa, arrived in Sydney by the Moreton Bay on October 22, and left for Apia a few days later. Accompanied by his wife, he has been on six months’ furlough in America and England. Mr. Braisby has been in Samoa for 18 years, and has held his present position since New Zealand took over the Mandate.

Mr. Arthur McConnell, with his two daughters, left Suva for Australia by the Monterey on October 2. For over 60 years he had been a copra planter in the Colony —residing at Taveuni for the last 50 years. Mr. McConnell intends to settle permanently in Australia.

Right Rev. Stephen Harris Davies, M.A., Bishop of Carpentaria, and Mrs. Davies, arrived in Sydney from Thursday Island by the Marella on October 24. They con tinued on to Melbourne in the same steamer.

Sir Hubert Murray, K.C.M.G., Lieuten ant-Governor of Papua, left Port Moresby on the Government yacht “Laurabada” for Samarai, N.E. Coast stations and Misima Island on October 1. He was accompanied by the Hon. H. L. Murray, the Official Secretary, Mr. Adolph Austin, an old and respected resident of New Caledonia, died at his residence in the Route de L’Anse-Vata, New Caledonia, on September 5. For a time he was associated with the late Mr.

Thomas Johnston, who for many years was British Consul at Noumea.

Mr. F. E. Williams, anthropologist to the Papuan Government, returned to Port Moresby by the Macdhui on September 27.

For twelve months he has been studying Social Anthropology in Europe and Eng land.

Rev. R. C. Rudgard, who, until a short time ago, was in charge of the Melanesian

Mission’s school at Pawa, Ugi, Solomon Islands, recently married Miss McLean, of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. They will leave shortly for England where they will live in future.

Mr. J. R. Rigby, Patrol Officer, who is stationed at Namatanai, New Guinea, left Sydney with his wife by the Tanda for Rabaul on October 13. He has been in Melbourne on a holiday visit for the past nine months.

Sister Carvers, of the Melanesian Mis sion, Torgil, Banks Islands, arrived in Sydney from the New Hebrides by the Morinda on October 29. Subsequently she went on to New Zealand where she will spend her furlough.

Mr. Leo Gibbons, general manager of Gold Mines of Papua Ltd., recently ar rived in Australia from Port Moresby, and in November was staying at the Went worth Hotel, Sydney.

Mrs. E. W. P. Chinnery, wife of the well-known New Guinea anthropologist, arrived in Sydney by the Mariposa on November 5. Mrs. Chinnery will remain in Australia with her children until after the Christmas holidays, when she will re join her husband in Rabaul.

Rev. Mr. Dewdney, who is on his way to the London Missionary Society station at Orokolo in Papua, to serve in the mis sion field for nine years, arrived in Sydney on the Moldavia in October. Mr. Dewd ney is an attractive type of young Eng lishman, who is likely to be popular in the Territory.

Miss E. Fagan, of Banks Islands, ar rived in Sydney by the Morinda on Octo ber 29. She is stationed at the Melane sian Mission at Torgil, and is en route to Melbourne on leave.

Mr. D. M. Askew, who has been in the Banks Islands, New Hebrides, for some months, investigating the sulphur de posits at Port Patteson, returned to Syd ney by the October Morinda. He went under to a sharp attack of blackwater fever, but made an excellent recovery, thanks to the skill of the French doctor at Vila hospital.

Mr. C. R. Bignell, planter of Ysabel, Solomon Islands, returned to Tulagi by the November Malaita. Since June last, when he arrived in Sydney suffering from tropical poisoning, he had been under the constant supervision of skilled physicians.

When he left for B.S.I. on November 3, however, he was looking very fit and cheery, though limping slightly.

Mr. Arthur Lewis Milner, a new worker for the Melanesian Mission, left Sydney recently for New Hebrides. He will assist Archdeacon R. Godfrey to run the mission ketch Patteson.

Mr. E. A. Callanan arrived in Sydney from America on October 8, to take over the position of Chairman and Managing Director of the Vacuum Oil Co. Pty. Ltd., from Mr. C. Cornforth, who is retiring after 33 years of service. Mr. Callanan enlisted in the U.S. Aviation Corps when America entered the Great War, and later was in charge of an Army aviation train ing school. After the War he served with General Motors Corporation and then joined the Vacuum Oil Co. Mr. Callanan has held many positions in the company’s technical and sales departments and is an expert on all phases of the oil business.

Rev. G. P. Lassam, of East Cape, Papua, has resigned from the Papua dis trict of the Methodist Mission, owing to his wife’s illness. They intend to return to Sydney late in November.

Mr. J. S. Neill, British Consul and Agent in the Tongan Islands, arrived in Suva, Fiji, from London by the m.v.

Waiwera on October 16, en route to Nukualofa. With his wife, he had been on furlough in England.

Miss M. H. Hodge, who has been at the Methodist Mission, Salamo, Papua, ar rived in Sydney on furlough by the November Montoro.

Mr. N. B. Casey, of Fiji, was presented with the insignia and certificate of M.B.E., which had been conferred on him by the King in June last, by Sir Murchi son Fletcher, when the Legislative Coun cil was opened in Suva on October 12.

When investing Mr. Casey with the de coration His Excellency said it was in recognition of Mr. Casey’s valuable ser vices as Superintendent of Prisons and as Chairman of the European Unemploy ment Relief Board.

Right Rev. C. J. N icholas, Roman Catholic Bishop of Fiji, arrived in Syd ney by the Mariposa on November 5, on his way to attend the Melbourne Eucha ristic Congress. Bishop Nicholas, who is a native of France, has been engaged in mission work in Fiji for 45 years.

Mr. H arris, who for the past 16 months has been superintending the erection of church buildings on several of the Torres Strait Islands, returned to his home in Bathurst, N.S.W., in October.

Dr. Jabin Dudognon, a surgeon of the French Army, who has served in Morocco and Cochin China, arrived in Sydney by the Ville d’Amiens on November 5, en route to Noumea for further service.

Rev. Dumas, Rev. Jeivarch, and Rev.

Lang, Maronite priests, arrived in Sydney from France on November 5 by the Ville d’Amiens, on their way to the Pacific Islands for mission work. Fathers Jeiv arch and Lang are en route to Papua, while Father Dumas is on his way to the Gilbert Islands.

Mrs. W. R. McNicoll, wife of the Ad ministrator of New Guinea, was the guest of honour at a meeting of the Harbour side branch of the Country Women’s Association held in Sydney on October 17. Many members were present to bid her farewell prior to her departure to join Brigadier-General McNicoll in Rabaul. At the meeting, a suggestion was advanced that a branch of the C.W.A., under the leadership of Mrs. McNicoll, should be formed in the Territory.

Rev. A, Mason, of Fiu, North Mala, British Solomon Islands, accompanied by Mrs. Mason, arrived in Sydney by the

Malaita on October 28. For 20 years they have been working in the Solomons for the Melanesian Mission, and are now going to New Zealand on leave.

Mr. Harry Steele Wisdom, manager of the Fiji firm of Marlows Ltd., died in Suva on October 24 after a sudden illness.

Going to Fiji as an accountant, Mr. Wis dom joined the staff of the Vancouver- Fiji Sugar Co. at Navua. Later, when the company closed down, he was en gaged by Marlows Ltd. as manager and secretary. For the past two years Mr.

Wisdom was President of the Defence Club. He is survived by his wife and two children —Joan and John, both at pre sent in New Zealand.

Bishop Thomas J. Wade, of the Marist Mission at Kieta, Bougainville, in the Northern Solomons, arrived in Sydney by the Malaita on October 28. After visiting Melbourne for the Roman Catholic Con gress he will leave for Rome, by way of America.

Madame Ledamoisel, an old and re spected resident of New Caledonia re turned to Noumea in November, after a holiday visit to France.

Mr. H. Finter, Queensland Inspector of Aboriginal schools, returned to Brisbane in October after completing a tour of in spection of schools on the Torres Strait Islands.

Miss Gladys Thomas, who has been serving in Papua as a missionary sister

for the Methodist Mission, has retired, and returned to Sydney by the Mataram on October 5, owing to ill-health.