Catholic Bishop's

Death

Rt. Rev. C. J. Nicolas, of Fiji ALONG life of service devoted to the Church and the native people of the Central Pacific ended with the death, in Suva on August 15, of Rt. Rev.

Charles Joseph Nicolas, SM, CBE, Catholic Bishop of Fiji, in his 82nd year.

Born in Lorraine in 1860, he entered the Marist Order and studied in Eng land and Ireland. Ordained a priest at 28, he was sent out to New Caledonia.

An exchange of missionaries led to his going to Fiji, where eventually he oecame parish priest of Suva, serving in that capacity for 20 years.

In 1910 he was appointed Marist Pro vincial, which necessitated his travelling regularly to all Marist stations in Fiji,

Tonga, Samoa, BSI, New Hebrides and New Caledonia. He held this post for eight years.

When the aged Bishop Vidal, of Suva, felt the need for a coadjutor, Father Nicolas was chosen and, at Sydney in 1919, was consecrated Titular Bishop of

Panopolis. Three years later he became Vicar Apostolic of Fiji, on the death of Bishop Vidal.

During his 52 years in the Colony, Bishop Nicolas devoted himself particu larly to the educational advancement of the Fijians, for he sought the welfare of the natives along secular as well as religious lines. Probably his outstanding work in this direction was the establish ment of many schools and of a seminary for training native clergy at Cawaci.

Exactly three years ago, in September, 1938, Bishop Nicolas celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination and, to mark the occasion, Suva’s Roman Catholic community, as a gift, erected two towers to complete the Sacred Heart Cathedral. The honour of Com mander of the Order of the British Empire was conferred on the Bishop in January, 1939.

In spite of his age, Bishop Nicolas took an active part in the affairs of the Mission, right up to his death. He insisted, early in August, on making a visit to Cawaci station, despite the pleas and anxiety of his staff; and at Cawaci he collapsed, and was taken back to Suva Colonial War Memorial Hospital, where he passed away within a few days.

Mr. S. H. C. Short, who was well known in Bougainville, TNG, and the British Solomon Islands as a plantation manager for Choiseul Plantations Ltd., died in Sydney recently, while on leave.

Colonel H, C. Cameron, a prominent planter of New Guinea, arrived in Aus tralia recently for a holiday. During his absence, Mr. Jim Ormonde has taken over the management of Djaul estate.

Bishop Nicolas.

—Photo: “Catholic Freeman’s Journal.”