Death of "Jimmy"
pp. 41-42 · Read in the full issue
Inman Varied Career of Papuan Old-Timer
From Our Own Correspondent SAMARAI, April 9.
THE passing of James Inman, who died in Samarai Hospital on March 28, after a long illness, caused widespread regret throughout Papua.
He was 58 years old.
“Jimmy”, as he was known to every body, first came to this territory in the 1890’s with his father, W. A. Inman, who ran the first mail service to New Guinea for Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd.
As a lad he worked for B.P.’s in Cook town, Qld., and later joined their staff in Port Moresby and Samarai.
He left the company to enter the Administration, and served as an A.B. on the original “Merrie England”. During this service he had some exciting ex periences and, at one time, was respon sible for saving the late Sir Hubert Murray’s life when a whaleboat capsized and sank in a river. “Jimmy”, at the time, was on the lookout in the “crow’s nest” of the “Merrie England” and, per ceiving the Governor’s plight, sum moned aid and went to his rescue.
After leaving the Administration, Inman joined the staff of the Anglican Mission and, for a considerable time, was in charge of their vessels “Albert MacLaren” and “Whitkirk”. Later he became a recruiter and at different times owned the ketches “Olive” and “Dove”. In 1914, he took to planting;
but in recent years he had been master of the “Matoma” for Burns, Philp and Co., and also of the “Nusa” for Steamships Trading Co. Ltd.
“Jimmy” Inman was one of the most conscientious men Papua has known, and when there was work to be done he was always on the job. He possessed -,,, , , . a lively sense of humor and could relate a fund of interesting tales of Papua’s early history.
The output from the Morobe Goldfield T.N.G., for March was 42,228 ounces, valued at £A278,000. Thus, with only nm< r months of the current year expired, gold worth £2,000,000 has already been produced. new Roman Catholic convent Jl 9? 1, tc L bui i d o n< ? equip, was officially opened at Port Moresby , p apu3i by the Acting-Lieu ten ant Governor (Hon. H. W. Champion) on April 7.