Islanders

Dr. Ellison's Work For Islanders Retirement After 20 Years' Service

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Dec. 20.

DR. E. P. ELLISON, OBE, chief medi cal officer of the Cook Islands, left Rarotonga in December. He has retired after 20 years’ service in the Islands.

It was fitting that Dr. Ellison should conclude his long period of work for the welfare of the Cook Island people by performing the opening ceremony of the new TB Sanatorium on December 13, only a few days before his departure. From his earliest connection with the Group, the scourge of TB has been one of the doctor’s foremost concerns and he was determined to see a sanatorium estab lished for the treatment of serious cases.

For a long time he strove to obtain a modest grant for the purpose and at last his perseverance was rewarded when the NZ Government, in excess of his own hopes and dreams, erected a £20,000 establishment. The sanatorium has ac commodation for 40 patients and a group of separate semi-native style houses for convalescents. There is a European mat

ron in charge, with a staff of eight Rarotongan nurses.

Dr. Ellison was one of that band of great Polynesians, all of one generation wno graduated from Te Aute College and devoted themselves to the physical wel fare and regeneration of their own race.

Others were Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir James Carrol and Dr. Peter Buck.

Dr. Ellison is proud of his double con nection with Rarotonga—he comes from one of the South Island tribes whose an cestors sailed from Rarotonga in the great canoes.

He and Mrs. Ellison have reared a large family—three sons have served in the war. She has taken a leading part in the social life of the community and did much good work in connection with the Child Welfare Association, which will remain as another of the doctor’s per manent memorials in the Cook Islands.

Both took a keen interest in local sport.

The Ellisons have won a permanent place in the affections of the Cook Islands people, both brown and white.

They will be remembered for their great kindness and hospitality as well as for their many years’ hard work for the benefit of the Islands.

ANOTHER part-Polynesian doctor has taken Dr. Ellison’s place in Raro tonga. The new medical officer, Dr.

T. Davis, was born in Rarotonga of a European father and Rarotongan mother.

He left Rarotonga at the age of 12 to go to King’s College, Auckland. From there he went to Otago Medical School and for the past two years he has server in Auckland Hospital.

A keen yachtsman, Dr. Davis set out to sail to Rarotonga as mate on the schooner “Tahitienne,” which has been purchased by Mr. Dick Brown, of Raro tonga, and refitted for trading in the Islands. But after reaching the Ker madecs trouble developed and the vessel had to return to New Zealand, where upon Dr. Davis made the voyage by steamer.

Miss Elsie Muriel (“Pat”) Thomas, daughter of Mrs. A. B. Thomas and the late Mr. Thomas, formerly of Suva, Fiji, was married in Auckland recently to Mr.

Neville Stephenson.

Warrant-Officer W. W. Brown, of ANGAU, who was attached to the United States 164th Regiment in 1944, has been informed that he has been recommended for the Bronze Star.

Mr. Ned Ryan, PO Box 54, Collinsville, Queensland, would like to get into touch with an old mate, Mr. Jim Wilton, for merly of Wewak, and well known on the Morobe goldfield. Anyone knowing Mr.

Wilton’s whereabouts is invited to com municate with Mr. Ryan. *