Lost Genealogies Of
pp. 37-38 · Read in the full issue
Cook Is.
From Our Own Correspondent MANGAIA, March 3.
NUMEROUS recent deaths in the native community have laid bare once more the negligence of early recorders of births, marriages, etc From 1901 onwards, accurate registers were kept; but when anyone, born before Annexation dies, the family, only too often cannot state the deceased’s age or ante cedents, of which only he was aware, and of which he neglected to inform his heirs in his lifetime. A.s a result, the registrations are often mere guesswork.
This suffices for legal purposes: but does not always please the deceased’s heirs and successors, where land comes into the case. At present, complete confusion over ownership of land exists. Possession is the test, and the Island Council is the adjudicator of any dispute over estates.
Mr. C. M. G. Adam, of Suva, Fiji, was a passenger to Brisbane on the flying boat “Coriolanus” on March 27.
Mr. Cheung Hung, the sole surviving brother of the well-known Chinese firm of Kwong Ching Bros., of pre-war Rabaul, has now returned to the Terri tory of New Guinea. He will reopen his business in the Rabaul district, Mr. K. A. Robinson, senior inspector for Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. in Papua-New Guinea, arrived in Sydney about mid- March to visit his mother who is in ill health.
Mrs. V. Thomas, formerly a well known resident of Rabaul, has gone to Lae, where she will assist in the management of the Cecil Hotel. Mrs. Thomas was accompanied by her daughter, Miss Betty Cardew, who has taken a position with Qantas at Lae.