End Of Romantic

Life

Mr. J. A. Philips, of Moorea

From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, December 1.

AVERY well known and much respected old-timer in Eastern Polynesia passed away on November 25, in the P er John Augustus Philips, who succumbed to a stroke of paralysis following a long period of indifferent health. He was 75 years of age.

There is a hint of mystery in the circum stances under which Mr. Philips left his home in Staffordshire, England, during his earlv manhood, and his final settlement in Moorea about 45 years ago after some pre liminary wanderings in New Zealand and Australia. Though insignificant in stature, Philips carried with him the unmistakeable air of an English aristocrat, and his cul tured accents betrayed an intimate asso ciation with all that goes along with great estates. His previous history, however— which we cannot help thinking must have been a very interesting one —was screened behind an impenetrable reticence, which was never lifted, even for his most inti mate friends.

In the village of Faatoai, Moorea, where the deceased gentleman allied himself by marriage to one of the influential families of the island, and built his principal place of residence, his home became a place of refuge for a numerous retinue of native dependents, whose presence he thoroughly enjoyed and without whom he was never really happy. His visits to Papeete were few and far between during this period—in fact, so enamoured was he by the associa tions of his adopted land, he paid only two short visits to England during the whole of his sojourn here.

Philips was a Polynesian scholar and linguist of unusual attainments, and in tensely interested in everything appertain ing to the ancient history and folk-lore of the native inhabitants. He was also a great admirer of Henry Nott, one of the early English Missionaries, who came to Tahiti in the Duff in 1797, and after 39 years of laborious work produced a com plete translation of the Bible in the Tahitian dialect. Some years ago Nott’s grave at Arue was re-discovered and re stored to a proper condition by Philips and a few other sympathisers.

As might have been expected from one who was so thoroughly Tahitian at heart, the deceased had requested that the obsequies should be carried out in the native language, and this duty was very admirably performed in the Protestant Church in Papeete by the Pastor, Paul Vernier, in the presence of a gathering which filled the building to overflowing.

The cortege then proceeded to the ceme tery at Paurani, where the interment took place.

Philips, who was twice married, leaves three children by his first wife, all of whom have reached maturity, and settled down to their own affairs. The youngest, a boy, married a few years ago a daughter of Mr.

Livingston Gump, of San Francisco, and has since built a lovely heme in Moorea.

We extend our sincere sympathy to the bereaved widow and the other members of the family.

Mr. W. F. Gill, plantation inspector for Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd. at Rabaul, arrived in Sydney from New Guinea by the Macdhui at the end of November.