Death Of J. E. Sabine

ON January 17, Jack E. Sabine, 40, a poultry-farmer in a big way, was blown to pieces in a gelignite explosion in a motor car on his farm at Ryde, near Sydney.

Sabine was well-known in New Guinea a few years ago. He went to New Guinea after having served in the war, and became a successful coconut-planter. He also engaged successfully in horse racing at Rabaul.

It appears that Sabine had established a very modern poultry-farm at Ryde at a cost of about £10,000; and that he had in curred in connection therewith very press ing obligations, as a result of which he was financially embarrassed.

Early in the morning of January 17 he appeared in his usual spirits. He went out to a shed where he kept his car, stepped into the car, and immediately there was a terrific explosion. Detectives made a close .nquiry, and apparently they formulated a suicide theory. Mrs. Sabine told the police that her husband had been suffering from the effects of malaria and was far from well.

Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Oldham returned to Samarai by the Montoro from Sydney on January 11. Mr. Oldham is a Resident Magistrate in the Papuan Public Service.