Rarotonga

J. M. Salmon of Rarotonga

Letter to the Editor APROPOS of my letter in the July “P.1.M.” concerning the antecedents of John Mortimer Salmon, of Raro tonga, I have since come across some information that, in part, answers this query. In her “Strange South Seas”, published in 1907, Miss Beatrice Grim shaw makes reference to a meeting with Salmon and his wife, Queen Tinomana of Arorangi.

Miss Grimshaw refers to Salmon as an Anglo-American, says that he landed in Rarotonga in 1874 from the schooner “Venus”, and that he was the grandson of Thomas Dunnett, a Ramsgate sea captain. There is also an account in this book of Salmon’s romance with Tinomana, and a description of Miss Grimshaw’s visit to their home. The five children who were born to them, she says, all died.

Perhaps Miss Grimshaw, who is now a resident of Australia, can enlighten us as to her informant concerning Salmon’s forbears?

Was Alexander Salmon, of Tahiti, also related to this Thomas Dunnett? I think not. The name does not suggest any Jewish association. Nothing appears to be on record concerning Alexander Salmon’s English family. It is said that he was the son of a London banker.

That he was an educated man is obvious. Though he must have been very young when he landed in Tahiti, he certainly appears to have had a good schooling, and the story that he, too, had had banking experience may be true.

I am, etc.,

Eric Ramsden.

The Pacific Islands Society, Sydney, August 5, 1940.

Mr. Richard Edgar Christian, Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island, died at Pitcairn Island on June 20.