Oldest Resident In

Western Samoa

Death of Mrs. Luebecke

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, May 11.

ON May 1, there died in Apia Government Hospital the oldest white woman resident in Western Samoa, Mrs. Elizabeth Luebecke, at the age of 86 years.

Mrs. Luebecke, who could look back to over 42 years of life in Samoa, was born in Holstein, Germany, where she had married a ship’s captain, who later died of fever in Santos, Brazil. She was engaged as housekeeper by a German firm in Samoa in 1893, and worked long years at the firm’s headquarters at Apia. Later, she was engaged in the same capacity by the German Governor of Samoa, Dr. Wilhelm Solf.

After leaving her position, she married the owner and editor of the German-English newspaper in Samoa, Emil Luebecke, who died some years ago. The deceased was active and strong practically up to the time of her death. Owing to an accident a few weeks ago, when she broke her hip bone, Mrs. Luebecke was under treatment at the hospital.

Mr. A. C. Rentoul, resident magistrate at Misima, Eastern Papua, accompanied by Mrs. Rentoul, returned to the Territory in June, after furlough in Australia.