Captain "Myles”

Thompson

Prominent N.G. Planter's Sudden Death in Melbourne

ONE of the best-known and most re spected planters in New Guinea, Captain George Power Myles Thomp son (known throughout the Territory as “Myles”) died suddenly in Victoria on February 17. He arrived in Australia from Rabaul at the end of 1938, appar ently in good health; but, recently, he entered a private hospital in Melbourne and, shortly after, became unconscious.

He did not rally, and died.

Mr. Thompson’s first connection with the Islands was as a member of the staff of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. in Fiji before the Great War. In the war, he held a commission and served with the Bth Infantry Brigade, 29th Bat talion, A.I.F. He went to New Guinea in 1921 as an overseer for the Expro priation Board, and at the sale of expro priated properties bought several coconut estates. Since then, he had consolidated and increased his holdings, his main plantations being Iboki and Nonga.

Mr. Thompson was a consistent sup porter of the Rabaul Amateur Turf Club and other New Guinea sporting organ isations. He also was an active and leading member of the Rabaul Club.

Pall-bearers at his funeral, which took place at Springvale Crematorium. Mel bourne, were Lieutenant-Colonel H.

Cameron (representing Chief Judge F. B.

Phillips), Capt. S. Gullett and Capt. L.

Brewer (representing the Bth Infantry Brigade, 29th Battalion), Mr. S. Costelloe (R.S.S.I.L A„ Rabaul), Capt. Shaw (Na val and Military Club), and Messrs. W.

Samson and S. Best, of Rabaul. Other New Guinea people present included Hon. E. W. P. Chinnery, M.L.C. (repres enting the Administration). Hon. H. O.

Townsend, M.L.C., and Messrs. L. Mc- Arthur. A. N. McLennan, and A. Drum mond-Thompson.