Middenway

Death of Captain A.

Captain A. Middenway, A Well

known figure in the public service of Fiji and the Solomon Islands for many years, died in Sydney, after a short illness, on May 24. He had retired from the service of the Solomon Islands Administration as recently as 1935; and. since he made his home in Sydney, had identified himself with several organisa tions for community betterment, notably the Boy Scout movement.

An Australian by birth, and a veteran of the last war, Captain Middenway might well be described as having died in harness. Last September, though he was over 60, he at once offered his ser vices, and he was sent to the internment camp. There he served until the camp was moved. He cheerfully accepted non commissioned rank, though he was nom inally adjutant to the camp commandant.

Later, he took up special duties at Vic toria Barracks in " Sydney, where he worked until he collapsed, and was taken into hospital at North Sydney. There it was found that his end would be only a matter of days.

Few people were more unassuming, more anxious to serve unostentatiously, than Captain Middenway. Soon after he came to Sydney he joined the Pacific Islands Club, and was on its Council until his death. He was closely identified with the Air Raid Precautions unit at North Sydney. During the World Jamboree for Boy Scouts, held in Sydney nearly two years ago, he occupied an important post on the administrative side. His motto was “I serve”. And he seryed his country until the last.

It is not generally known that he could have been decorated for his ser vices in the last war. But he declined any such distinction, and asked to be re turned to the Fiiian Government Service instead. On enlisting for the war, he had defied local regulations. This request was granted, and, later, he was trans ferred to the Solomons, where he became secretary to the Protectorate Govern ment, and subsequently served as an ad ministrative officer.

A man of humane sentiments, with a rigid sense of justice, Captain Midden way was perhaps at his best when deal ing with * the natives. Yet he had the same outlook when handling youth. Both resnonded in the same way. His passing will evoke as much regret among the inhabitants of many a native village as among Captain European friends. He is survived by his widow, and Pat, his only son. The latter, by the way, has already made a reputation as a champion swimmer.—E.R.

Dr. M. Rose, formerly Government Medical Officer at Ania, Western Samoa, has taken up a similar appointment at Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Mr. F. VV. Hennings, Sydney repre sentative for the Fiji Publicity Bureau, paid a short visit to New Zealand at the end of May.

Mr. Andrew Deoki, youngest son of Mr.

N. S. Deoki, of Suva, Fiji, arrived in New Zealand recently to complete his course at the Auckland University.

Mr. Surya Naravan married Miss Bukiam Naikar. daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

Arumugam Naikar, of Samabula, at the Sangam Hall, Fiji, in May. It was the first wedding in the Hall since its open ing in February last year.

Papua is the least civilised place in the world. There isn’t a single poison gas factory there yet.—“ Looker On”.