Death Of Mrs. Mary
p. 17 · Read in the full issue
Preston
THE sudden death of Mrs. Mary Pres ton, at King’s Cross, Sydney, on Mav 18, one of the popular person alities of Panua and a member of a fam ily associated with Port Moresby since the 1890’s, came as a shock to her many friends at present in Australia.
She, in the early days, was an employee of Burns. Philp & Co.’s branch in Port Moresby, and it was probably through the experience gained there that she in later years made a success of her trad ing store on Ela Beach. She knew how to cater for the natives, and they, not slow to appreciate her fair treatment, came long distances in canoes to do busi ness at her store.
Aged 58. she was a sister of the well known Christie brothers (Sandy and George), two well-known pioneer pros pectors of Papua. Her death was due to a sudden heart seizure while out walk ing with’ her two daughters, Prue (Mrs.
K. Franks) and Laurel.