About Islands People

Rev. E. J. Harris, 8.A., Methodist mis sionary at Vavau, Tonga, where he has spent 10 years, is now on long furlough in Victoria, with Mrs. Harris.

Mr. Sydney H. Chance, F.R.G.S., goes to Buna, Eastern Papua, this month, as Acting R.M. In recent years he has been Acting R.M. at Daru, Kikori, Port Moresby, and Cape Nelson.

Rev. William Paton, Secretary of the International Missionary Council in Eng land, who was to visit South Seas mis sion stations early this year, has can celled his plans owing to the war.

Monsieur Louis May, mining engineer and Sub-Lieutenant of Artillery in New Caledonia, married Madamoiselle Chris tyane Catalan, daughter of Monsieur Louis Catalan. Privy Councillor, Belgian Consul at Noumea, and a Knight of the Legion of Honour, and Madame Catalan, on December 16. The ceremony took place at Noumea Cathedral.

Rev. A. C. Cato, M.A., 8.D., Methodist missionary at Kadavu, Fiji, sailed from Australia for the Colony with his wife by the December Matson liner. During his furlough, he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Education at the University of Melbourne.

Mrs. E. Morgan, mistress at the Sa moan Administration’s European school at Ifi Ifi, arrived in New Zealand from Apia by the December “Matua”.

Rev. Joni Tonga, who carried out depu tation work in Australia during last year for the Methodist Mission, returned to Nukualofa, Tonga, in December.

Mr. W. Heydon, manager of one of W. R. Carpenter and Co.’s New Guinea plantations, left Rabaul early in Janu ary for New Zealand, en route to Syd ney, on leave.

Mr. C. E. de F. Pennefather, Adviser on Native Affairs in Fiji, returned to Suva from leave by the December “Monterey”. He was accompanied by Mrs. Pennefather.

Dr. F. E. Montague, Senior Medical Officer in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, arrived at Suva, Fiji, by the “Monterey” last month.

Rev. H. J. E. Shert, a well-known L.M.S. missionary in Papua, who has been ab sent in India and Europe on long fur lough, expects to arrive in Sydney on his way home to Papua on February 19.

“Fogs are linking up the blackouts just now, but the spirit of the British Isles is bright and fearless”, he writes, in a note to the editor of the ‘‘P.I.M.”.

Mr. Lee L. Browne, of Mount Kasi Mines Ltd., Vanua Levu, Fiji, married Miss Doris Mary White, of Auckland.

New Zealand, in Sydney on January 1.

Mr. Browne was connected with the chrome mining industry in New Cale donia for some years, but in 1937 left Noumea for Fiji, where he took up his

present appointment.

Mr. Alan Scott, a 22-years-old Sydney professional cyclist, who was making a tour of New Caledonia with Mr. Tommy O’Donnell, was fatally injured in a road accident while training near Noumea on December 18. O’Donnell was slightly hurt.

Mr. R. A. Malone, Treasurer and Col lector of Customs in Western Samoa, re turned to the Public Service in New Zealand after serving a term of three years. The Collector of Customs in Sa moa is responsible for the administration of the archaic and ridiculous liquor re gulations; and, in that respect. Mr.

Malone had a very difficult position to fill.

Mr. Henry Dexter,, formerly well known in Papua, has bought a small pro perty on Hayling Island, Hants., Eng land, and there has settled down to a quiet life. Mrs. Dexter, to whom he was married only in 1938. died recently

Rt. Rev. Leonard S. Kempthorne. M.A.

(Oxon). Anglican Bishop in Polynesia, returned to his headquarters at Suva, Fiji, in December alter an official visit to Tonga and Western Samoa. His Lordship plans to leave Suva again in early February to attend the Provincial Synod in New Zealand, after which he will make further visits to the eastern parts of the Diocese of Polynesia. Born in New Zealand in 1886, he was educated at Nelson College, Auckland Uni versity, and at Oxford. In 1914 he was ordained at St. Paul’s Cathedral. London, and served as a missionary in North Nigeria and as chaplain at Ipoh, Federated Malay States, before assum ing the office of Bishop in Polynesia in 1923.