Tahiti Man

Death of Well-Known Tahiti Man

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Dec. 20.

MR. Edward Simmons died at Papeete on November 5, 1941. His passing has severed another link with the old days in Tahiti and, more, with that America we knew in our younger days.

Mr. Simmons was a coloured man from the Deep South of the United States.

One unacquainted with the plantation life of the Old South, as it existed before and following the Civil War, can never understand the relationship be tween the white and coloured man. It had its foundations in mutual respect, which softened the circumstance of master and retainer, and inspired in the coloured man a loyalty and affection which bound him to the household until the end of his days.

Mr. Simmons was born in that period, 86 years ago. He had travelled all over the world before he finally settled at Tahiti: but he never lost that quiet courtesy and dignity which was his heri tage from the plantation in the Old

South where he had passed his child hood, A conversation with him brought to memory the gracious, cultured manner of life which has departed forever with those who practised it.

Mr. Simmons was greatly respected by all of our European colony at Tahiti.

For so many years has he been a fami liar figure in Papeete that he had become an essential and valued part of the community.

Residents of Fiji who were included in the New Year Honours List were: Dr.

Cyril John Austin, medical officer at Makogai Leper Hospital, QBE.. and Mr.

John F. Grant, of Indian parentage, resident at Suva, MBE.

It was officially announced in Papeete, Tahiti, early in December, that Mr. D.

Cameron had been appointed British Consul in Tahiti, and would take charge of the British Consulate about the middle of December. By invitation of the British Consul-General, Mr, Archer, and Mrs.

Archer, all British subjects there as sembled at the Blue Lagoon Hotel, Papeete, on December 6, to formally meet Mr. and Mrs. D. Cameron.