First N. M. P. In The Gilberts

I LEARNED recently that an old friend, Soane Puamau, Roko Tui Lau, had passed on at Lakeba, Fiji (writes Mr. H. H. Hickling, Resident Agent at Mangaia, Cook Islands). During the time I was stationed at Lakeba, I came to know him well. He was a Lauan and one of the first students of the Medical

School in Suva, nearly 35 years ago. He was first N.M.P. in the Gilbert and Ellice Group, and spent 30 years there, during which time he married a Gilbertese wo man and reared a family of five. On his leaves, he would visit Suva or Sydney, and I think I am correct in saying that he was not once able to visit the Lau Group until he retired from the medi cal service, and was sent to Lau as Roko. The group photograph herewith is of the native staff at Lakeba, Lau, and shows Puamau the second from the left, at the back.

The native administrative staff at Lakeba, Lau Group, Fiji, a few years ago. Back row—the Buli, Puamau, H. H. Hickling, native magistrate.

Front row—foreman, clerk, foreman.