Another Version

Harry Baker landed at Port Moresby in 1910; he was looking for a job, and interviewed the late Charles Baldwin.

Mr. Baldwin told him to look in the next day. When leaving, Baker mentioned that, should a reference be needed, he was well known to Judge Herbert. Bald win told him that such things as refer ences were not asked for in Port Moresby.

As it happened, Judge Herbert passed later in the day, and Baldwin mentioned the incident of the morning.

“Harry Baker?” said the Judge. “I know him well. I sentenced him to a term of imprisonment in the Northern Territory for being concerned in the murder of a Chinaman.”

I don’t think this counted as a recom mendation, but Baker was employed by Baldwin for some years—in fact, until his death —in driving the old steam launch “Ruby.”

While I was in Abau, a man named Freese applied to me for a permit to allow his native “wife” to travel with him to Port Moresby, on the steamer “Wakefield.” Tooani, the woman in ques tion, was a good-looking girl who had been brought up in the mission on Mailu Island.

When the couple arrived in Port Moresby they became associated with Baker. The almost inevitable happened.

In Freese’s absence, Baker forced his attentions on Tooani.

Immediately on his return, Freese heard from Tooani what had happened.

Freese found Baker and Tom McCrann’s playing cards. He drew a revolver and shot Baker dead. Freese was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Henry Dexter.

Mr. David Lees, formerly of Suva, died in Victoria at the end of May at the age of 50. He entered the Immigration Depart ment of the Fiji Government Service as a clerk in 1909. After serving in the Audit and Treasury Departments, he was ap pointed in 1931 as Assistant Treasurer.

Mr. Lees retired in 1932.