G. Heaton Nicholls Was In

Papua

'MR- STANLEY GREENLAND, formerly of the Papuan Public Service, Hcls written the following interesting note : PAST and present officers of the Papuan Civil Service will be in terested to know that their erst while brother-officer, the Hon. G. Heaton Nicholas, is the present High Commis sioner in London for the Union of South Africa.

Only the very grey-beards of the late Sir Hubert Murray’s command will re member Nicholls, and I fear there are but few of us who survive from those long-past years—l recall H. L. Murray, H. W. Champion, E. C. Harris, A. P.

Lyons, and L. L. Bell—though I trust there are others whose names escape me.

I do not remember when Mr. Nicholls joined the Service, but I know that he had preceded me as Magistrate in charge of the Mambare Division, in 1912; at the end of which year, or early in 1913, he decided to leave us and return to South Africa—a decision which led him to the high office he occupies to-day.

Nicholls played a leading part in the cultural life of Port Moresby while he was there. I believe I am right in say ing that he directed the first play pro duced in Papua—“David Copperfield”— on an improvised stage erected in the barrack square at Konedobu. Sir Hubert Murray (then Mr. Justice Murray) and the authoress, Miss Beatrice Grimshaw, were among those present. We, who were contemporary with Nicholls in Service life, will rejoice at the eminence he has achieved, though it may not sur prise us. I am sure that to a man we give him our warmest congratulations.