Death of Arthur Jewell

One of Papua's Best-known Residents

fTIHERE passed on, on July 13, at his X temporary home in Sydney, yet another well-known resident of Aus tralia’s Pacific Territories—Arthur Jewell, of Papua. After months of serious ill ness, due to heart trouble—aggravated doubtless, by evacuation to the colder climate of Sydney and the many war worries of evacuees generally—his death was not altogether unexpected.

At the funeral service was gathered the biggest congregation of Territorians seen in Sydney for many a day, paying tribute to a genuine Territorian, one whose life’s work and whole interest were centred in the country he adopted as his own. His mourners included representatives of every interest and every walk of life: Mr Leonard Murray, former Administrator of Papua, representatives of the Civil Administration, the main trading con cerns. the Papua Club, of which he was a foundation member, the Pacific Terri tories Association, of which he was a keen supporter, and most of the old fami lies of both Papua and New Guinea.

Arthur Jewell leaves a widow, herself a resident of Papua of many years’ stand ing, and whose interests are as deep rooted in the Territory as were those of her husband.

Born in Kent, England. 65 years ago, Arthur Jewell went to Papua over 40 years ago as secretary to Sir George Le Hunt. Some few years later he became associated with planting interests and to nlanting he devoted the rest of his life For many years, up to his death, he was general manager of Anglo-Papuan Plan tations, Ltd., an English companv with rubber and coconut plantations in the Territory. For a long time he had been interested in public affairs in Papua, hav ing been a non-official member of the Legislative Council and the first non-offi cial member of the Executive Council which positions he held until the sus pension of civil administration in 1942.

In the words of an old friend, uttered a few weeks before his death: “A good chan. Jewell, a simple, straightforward gentleman—one I always looked forward to meeting and remembered with pleasure after leaving.”

A better epitaph have few men.