Lese-Majesty In Fiji

Appeal Case Dismissed

SUVA, September 14.

AN appeal in a case which received much prominence locally was dealt with at the Supreme Court, Suva, on Sept. 6. Harold J. V. Rice, a missionary who described himself as “one of Jehovah's witnesses,” appealed to the Acting Chief Justice (Mr. R. S. Thacker) against his conviction and fine of £25 or three months in gaol by the Rewa District Commissioner on July 25 for acting in a manner preju dicial to the peace and good order of the Colony.

The Acting Attorney-General (Mr. A.

Hallam Roberts) alleged that Rice had made certain statements to Eseia Koroi, Buli of Dawasamu, and seven Fijians, tra ducing members of the Royal Family, the Fiji Governor, and District Commissioners.

It was also alleged that he spoke badly of other missionaries and priests in Fiji. An gered by his remarks, the natives ordered him out their house and journeyed to Suva to complain to the authorities. Rice was convicted, explained Mr. Hallam Roberts, under an ordinance designed to prevent the natives from being disturbed by people passing through their midst.

The appellant, who conducted his own case, denied the statements and spoke at great length on the teachings of his re ligion and their relation to the rulers of subject people. He maintained that the statements alleged to have been made by him were no more than bona fide expres sions of his religious faith —to be accepted or rejected as the hearers pleased. He also stated that the evidence given in the lower court had not been correctly taken •down.

His Honour, in a long judgment, upheld the magistrate’s finding and dismissed the appeal.

Mr. A. P. Cowie, of the South Sea Evan gelical Mission, at Inakona, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, arrived in Sydney on leave by the Malaita on September 27.

He departed for New Zealand by the Marama on October 11, and will spend six months’ furlough at Gore, in the South Island, before returning to Melanesia.

Mrs. Edna May Stephen, of Matupi Farm, New Guinea, died at her home on September 13. Arriving in the Territory ■early in 1927, she became attached to the clerical staff of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co., Ltd. After her marriage to Mr.

R. J. Stephen, of Rabaul, she carried on her duties as confidential secretary at Carpenters’ Rabaul office.