Hubert Murray

Touching Tribute by Sir Hubert Murray

THE Lieut.-Governor of Papua (Sir Hubert Murray) kindly acceded to our invitation, and supplied the following tribute to the memory of the late Mr. Hides;— “It is hard to believe that Jack Hides is dead, especially for us Papuans, who have known him since he was a small boy playing on Ela beach.

“It is hard to believe that one who was to us the personification of youth ful strength and vigour should succumb so soon to death, and that the quick and eager brain should be stayed and stilled for ever, “What he might have done if he had been granted another twenty years of life is difficult to imagine; his natural gifts, both physical and intellectual were such as to enable him to achieve al most any object at which he aimed. But for us, who knew him so well through his short and brilliant life, the loss is not so much that of the man who might have won for himself fame and high distinction if he had lived; our regret is rather for the boy and the man whom we knew so well, and admired and loved so much.

“May he rest in peace, and may the example of what he did serve as an in centive to many more young Australians to follow in his footsteps’’.