Man Disappears In Fiji
p. 60 · Read in the full issue
River
AN extraordinary accident occurred on the Rewa River, in Fiji, near Suva, on December 14, as a result of which Mr. George Bright, aged 35, chief offi cer of the Suva Fire Brigade, lost his life.
Mr. Bright was spending the day with a friend, Mr. Dick Freeman, on the latter’s launch, and Mr. Freeman was travelling along the Rewa River, buying bananas for the market. Mr. Freeman and Mr. Bright had been sitting on top of the launch, and then Mr. Freeman went below. He heard a splash and returned on deck. Mr. Bright had disap peared, the only sign of him being his hat, floating on the water nearby.
The aid of natives was enlisted, and subsequently the police were called in.
and a very thorough search of the whole locality was made; but the body of the missing man was not found until the following day, 14 miles downstream.
He apparently was a healthy man and there is nothing to show why he fell into the water. Apparently the cause of death was drowning. Mr. Bright came from Auckland and joined the Suva Fire Brigade in 1928, and became chief offi cer in 1930. He was well-known and highly respected, and was not married.
Mr. H. Hall, formerly of the Agricul tural Department in Western Australia, arrived in Suva by the December “Niag ara” to join the Fiji Civil Service as veterinary officer.
Mr. P. Oates reached Sydney from Bu lolo, New Guinea, where he is employed by B.G.D. Ltd., by the motorship “Bu lolo”, on December 19.