Pacific
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Death of French Pioneer In Pacific
THE executive head of Etablissements Ballande (the largest trading Arm in the French islands of the Pacific), M.
Andre Ballande, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, died at Bordeaux, France, on May 30, at the age of 80.
A man of unbounded activity and wide vision, M. Ballande played a very im portant part in the economic life of New Caledonia and New Hebrides. His name was closely linked with many trading and commercial enterprises in New Caledonia.
He was responsible for the creation of the Societe des Hauts-Fournaux, which was the first concern to treat nickel ore in Noumea. For the refinement of the metal, he established the Societe Usine de Nickel de la Nethe, in Belgium, and the United States Nickel Co., in America.
As a result of the initiative of M. Bal lande, a shipping service was inaugurated between Indo-China, New Caledonia, and New Hebrides. This enabled the intro duction of Tonkinese labourers into New Hebrides for French planters, at a time when it was badly needed.
Mr. A. Schmidt, of the Lands Depart ment, Rabaul, sailed from New Guinea for the East on furlough by the Nankin on May 23.
Mr. C. F. Eeles, manager in Fiji for East Reefs Consolidated N.L., arrived in Sydney in June to confer with his direc tors regarding future policy and develop ment of East Reefs’ Yanawai area.
Photograph taken on the occasion of the “At Home” given by Hon K. B. Singh to bid farewell to His Excellency Sir Murchison Fletcher. Seated from left: Mrs. H. C. Moncton, Mr. C. L., Cheng (Chinese Consul), Mrs. S. Pratap, Mrs. V. W. T. McGusty, Mrs. J. Grant, Mrs. J. Barton, H.E. the Governor (Sir Murchison Fletcher), Hon. K. B. Singh, Mr. J. Burton (Colonial Secretary), Mr. Said Hasan, sir Maynard Hedstrom, Mr. V. W. T. McGusty (Secretary for Indian Affairs), Mrs. I. Ramjan.