Death Of Mr. H. I. Harding,

In Tahiti

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Jan. 4

THE recent passing of Mr. Harold I X Harding has been felt deeply by his many friends here. He was a vic tim of the prevailing influenza epidemic Mr. Harding was born in 1883 at Tor onto, Canada, and after completing his studies at a great Canadian university entered the British Consular Service and was appointed to a post in China.

His extraordinary ability as a linguist established him as a permanent and indispensable member of the service in the Orient.

In addition to Asiatic languages, he spoke fluently, several European lan guages, including French. During the present war, he has given his services to the Colonial Government at Tahiti, as censor of all Chinese correspondence.

No Consular officer—in recent times, at least—has had so interesting and adven turous a career. During his 35 years in Asia, he penetrated remote mid-Asian regions to which only well-equipped exploring parties, sent out by geo graphical societies, have dared to travel.

During the later years of his service, he was Consul-General at Yunnan-Fou.

A few years ago Mr. Harding came to Tahiti and recently established himself on the outskirts of Papeete. Although his residence here has been compara tively short, many very warm friends honour his memory.