Sudden Death of R. H.

Brown W. Samoa Loses Leading Citizen

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 14.

RESIDENTS of Apia, Western Samoa, were shocked to learn on July 5, of the sudden death, from heart failure, of Mr. Roy H. Brown. He was one of the leaders of the social, sporting and commercial life of the town, and had been for many years manager of the local branch of Burns, Philp (SS) Co., Ltd.

He was only 51 years of age.

He was an Australian, and a World War I veteran.

He entered the service of Messrs. Burns, Philp in 1919, and was sent to Tonga,

where he married Miss Nellie Skeen, the daughter of Chief Judge Skeen, of Tonga.

He was appointed manager of the Apia Branch in 1928.

With great business ability he steadily expanded the business of his firm in Western Samoa to its present solid posi tion. Greatly respected and loyally sup ported by his staff, he took a personal interest in every member of his organisa tion.

As president of the Chamber of Com merce, he took a firm stand in guarding and defending the interests of the busi ness community, working at the same time in close co-operation with the ad ministration.

Apart from his business activities, he took an active interest in all social and sporting organisations, particularly in Rugby football. He was also an en thusiastic Freemason.

His elder son was killed in action in Italy, while fighting with the NZEF earlier this year.

The funeral on July 6 at Magiagi ceme tery was one of the largest ever seen in Samoa, and gave ample evidence of the great popularity of the deceased, and the general respect in which he was held.

It will be very difficult, indeed, to re place him in the many spheres in which he has taken such a prominent and dis tinguished part—particularly in a small community like Apia, which has never suffered from a surfeit of public spirited citizens.

Roy H. Brown.