Sir Harry Luke Visits Vila

From Our Own Correspondent VILA, June 10.

His Excellency Sir Harry Luke,

K.C.M.G., High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, created a good impression here when he paid his first official visit on board H.M.S. “Welling ton” at the end of May. He called at the British and French Residencies, granted interviews, and visited nearby na tive villages. Although his three days here were busy ones, Sir Harry found time for relaxation and gave an exhi bition of free-board aquaplaning in the Harbour.

Some residents were disappointed that at the Vila Club’s welcome and the Re turned Soldiers’ Association’s gathering, the only public speeches he made were in the French language. It is to be hoped that he does not regard the New Heb rides as more or less a French Colony, with just a few English settlers living here.

Before his departure for the northern part of the Group, His Excellency gave an “apertif” party to which all the re sidents of Vila, both British and French, were invited.

Mr. Charles James Morey, one of the oldest residents of Fiji, died in June. He went to the Colony in 1870 and for several years grew cotton on Koro Island. Mr. Morey joined the firm of John Wishart and Son as accountant early this century and remained with them until his retirement. Greatly re spected by both the Fijian and European communities alike, Mr. Morey took an active interest in public life and was a member of many public bodies.