Passing of Fiji Pioneers

Mrs. J. B. Brown

ONE of Fiji’s early pioneers, Mrs. J. B.

Brown, died in Auckland. New Zea land, in early October. She was the widow of Mr. L. E. Brown, of the firm of Brown and Joske, Suva. Her husband predeceased her by 27 years.

Mrs. Brown was 83 years of age at her death and will be remembered by the older generation of Fiji residents.

She was one of the Colony’s most charm ing hostesses and took a great interest in outdoor sport, in the Church of Eng land, and in helping others wherever possible.

After the death of her husband, she lived for some years in England, but she was residing in Fiji at the outbreak of World War 11. About 1942, she went to New Zealand, where she has lived since.

She is survived by her sister, Mrs. E.

Booth, now living in Jamaica, and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Olive Bevington, who now lives in Canada. Her brother.

Mr. E. W. W. Harness, died about five years ago.

Mr. Robert Blakelock

Mr. Robert Blakelock Died In

Suva at the end of September. He had celebrated his 100th birthday last May.

He was born in the North of England and in 1859 emigrated with his parents to New Zealand. In the same year his father accepted a contract to build a Wesleyan Church at Lakemba and the family moved to Fiji. His father was a shipwright, and when eventually he set tled at Malawai, Kadavu, he and his family turned out many fine vessels

there. Mr. Robert Blakelock followed his father’s trade for over 80 years be fore he retired.

Mr. Jack Eastgate

MR. JACK EASTGATE, who also died in Suva at the end of September, was born in 1879 at Namena, Tai levu, Fiji, but his home for the greater part of his life was in Levuka. He was educated at Levuka Public School and at the Auckland Grammar School, and then served his time as a building con tractor with the late Mr. C. S. Small, of Levuka.

Mr. Eastgate built many houses, chuhches and commercial buildings fin both Fiji and Tonga and was well known and respected.

Besides his Levuka home, he owned the estate of Urata, on Gau, and in re cent years he spent most of his time on that island.

Mr. W. Staite

THE death of Mr. W. Staite was re ported from Suva, Fiji, on October 13. He had been in Fiji for 40 years, having come there from New Zealand to be coachman to the then Governor, Sir Everard im Thurn. He was a well known personality around Suva right up to the time of his death.

He is survived by his widow and a daughter, Mrs. George Pocock, of Lau toka.