Old Fiji Residents

Pass On

rE deaths of several pioneer residents of the Colony were reported from Fiji during March.

Mrs. Estella Guiney

AFTER long illness, Mrs. Estella Guiney,, wife of Mr. George Guiney, of Suva, died at her home on March 18. She was an Australian who went to the Colony early in life, and subsequently married in Suva, where she made many friends. She is survived by her husband and their daughter Vivien, who is a mem ber of the staff of the Telegraph De partment, Suva.

Mr. Levi Underwood

MR. LEVI UNDERWOOD, who died at the age of 89, was the son of the daughter of a high chief and an American, Mr. Archie Underwood, who came to the Colony over 90 years ago.

Mr. Underwood. Sr., settled in Kadavu, where Levi was 3orn; he was murdered there by his Tanna labourers over 60 years ago.

Levi was a carpenter by trade and in this capacity worked all over the Colony.

Eventually he returned to settle on his freehold at Kadavu. but came back to Suva some years ago to spend the last of his life there with his family. He is survived by a widow, four sons, 42 grand children and 30 great-grandchildren. Two daughters pre-deceased him.

Mrs. Laura Spence

MRS. LAURA SPENCE, whose death occurred on March 18, was the widow of the late Mr. Frank Spence, formerly private secretary to the Governor, and the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Niemann, of Levuka.

Her uncle, Mr. G. L. Griffiths, was the founder of the “Fiji Times” in Levuka in 1869.

On the death of her husband some years ago, Mrs. Laura Spence came to Suva to live. She had a large number of friends throughout the Colony.

Mrs. Amelia Hooker

MRS. AMELIA HOOKER, wife of Mr.

Cecil Hooker, formerly Chief Clerk of the Public Works Department, Fiji, died in Auckland, NZ, on March 15. Since Mr. Hooker’s retirement in 1929, the family has lived in New Zea land. Mrs. Hooker had been in ill-health for many years.

She is survived by her husband and three daughters. Mrs. A. Noerr and Mrs.

H. Clark, of Suva, and Mrs. D. Mortimer, of Auckland.

Mrs. M. Ashley, Sr.

MRS. M. ASHLEY, widow of Mr. W.

Ashley, who was an early resident of Levuka, died at Levuka on March 11.

Mrs. Ashley’s father, Captain Kerrigan, was harbourmaster at Levuka in the early days, and she herself was born in the town, about 85 years ago. She is survived by three sons, Messrs. J.. V., and 8., Ashley, and by one daughter who lives in New Zealand.

News has been received that Flight- Lieutenant H. B. Deland was killed in a motor accident at Labuan, Borneo, on March 25. His parents are Mr. and Mrs.

C. C. Deland, now of Adelaide; Mr.

Deland, Sr., was well known in Kieta, TNG, some years ago. Dr. C. M. Deland, also well known in the Mandated Terri tory, is a half-brother of Flight-Lieu tenant Deland.