Washed Away

Fijian Villages Washed Away

NEWS received in Australia on Feb ruary 1, indicates that following hurricane weather, several villages were washed away as the result of tor rential rains in the northern and eastern districts of Viti Levu, Fiji. Loss of life is feared.

The Wainibuka River rose 70 feet, and the Rewa River 40 feet.

Fourteen inches of rain fell in this area over a 13-hour period.

The Rev. D. Fullerton, of the Metho dist Church, was recently ordained in Fiji. He is to be married in Lautoka, Fiji, as soon as his fiancee arrives from Australia.

Mr. A. E. Rudder has been elected chairman of the board of Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., in succession to the late Brigadier N. S. Falla, who had held that office since the company’s inception. He is vice-chairman of Qantas Empire Air ways, Ltd., and a representative in Aus tralia and New Zealand of British Over seas Airways Corporation.

Like so many others, the Bignell family (Solomon Islands and New Guinea) suf fered heavily in the Rabaul tragedy. The Japs made prisoners of Mrs. Kathleen Bignell, her son Charlie, and her son-in law, Dudley Roberts. Mrs. Bignell was liberated after imprisonment in Japan, but both young men were lost on the “Montevideo Maru.’’ Charlie Bignell, who was employed by the New Britain Timber Co., was one of the first Terri tories men to enlist in Australia in 1939. but he was later discharged on medical grounds. In Rabaul, however, in 1941. he enlisted again in the Machine-Gun Company of the 22nd Battalion, AIF, and he took part in the town’s last battle against the invaders. Dudley Roberts, who married Jean Bignell -in 1939, was a Govenment teacher on New Ireland.

The young widow has a child, 3£ years old, born in Sydney after the women were evacuated from New Guinea.