Grand Old Man Of

Levuka

90th Birthday of Captain David Robbie

A PIONEER colonist in Fiji, Captain David Robbie, was 90 years of age on March 4, 1939. He is a resident of Levuka, well-known and highly esteemed: and members of the Ovalau Club, led by Mr. Cyril King, arranged a party of Levuka citizens in his honour.

He received good wishes and congratula tions from a wide circle of friends.

David Robbie was born in Forfar, Scot land; was well educated there; and be came a telegraph clerk in the service of the Scottish Railway Co. But soon he

went off to sea; joined a vessel in the East Indian and Australian trade; went to the Thames Goldfield, New Zealand, m 1872; was in the N.Z. coastal trade for a while; and in 1876 he arrived in Fiji as master of the schooner “Nymph”.

Then he acquired a vessel of his own, and traded through all the Central Pacific Islands—from New Hebrides to Samoa, and north to the line. In 1882, he

settled in Suva as manager for Kopsen & Co., ship chandlers and general mer chants; and a few years later he estab lished himself very successfully in Levuka as a general merchant. In the late eighties he established plantations in Vanua Levu, where he grew tea of high quality, as well as cocoa, coffee, vanilla and( rubber. He was one of the best types of British colonists—enterprising, far visioned and ready always to render public service. As he became wealthy he took a greater interest in public affairs.

He was a Warden, and Mayor of Levuka on many occasions. He was Chairman of the Levuka School Board, President of the Levuka Chamber of Commerce and for many years he was Member represent ing his district in the Legislative Council.

He was a foundation member of the Ovalau Club. He was Harbour Master. He was a very active supporter of all healthy sport and foremost in the promotion of Regattas and in every movement made in connection with the welfare of Levuka.

Mr. L. J. Perichon, formerly of Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd.. Wau, New Guinea, has been appointed manager of the new B.P. hotel at Port Moresby, Papua.

Mr. D. MacKinnon, 0.8. E., who is a member of the British Solomon Islands Advisory Council, spent most of his re cent furlough in Sydney in hospital. He contracted a bad attack of influenza just after he arrived in Sydney and, later, this developed as pneumonia, and he had a month in Lister Hospital. The rest of his leave he spent in the Blue Moun tains and at Kurrajong undergoing con valescence. It has been noted that re sidents of the tropical islands contract influenza rather easily when they visit more temperate climes, and unless great care is taken the after-effects may be severe.

Captain Robbie—a photograph taken 30 years ago.