Death Of Mr. Cyril King

WHEN Mr. Cyril King, of Levuka, died suddenly on September 21, there disappeared one of the best known and most popular men in Fiji, and the South Seas. He had lived all his long life in Levuka, and he had been the most prominent citizen of the old town and had taken part in all its communal acti vities. He was sometimes referred to as “the King of Levuka”; and the double meaning was justified.

He was Chairman of Levuka Town Board, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Ovalau Club, Chairman of the Sports Committee; and he held various other public positions.

For years, Cyril King and his father ran the well known old Fiji newspaper, the “Polynesian Gazette”; but when the population shifted away from the old

capital to Suva, the newspaper, like the town, slowly decayed. After his father died, Cyril and his brothers carried it on; but finally they sold it to the Indians.

The “Gazette” was discontinued, and the plant was taken to Lautoka, where it still prints an Indian newspaper.

In later years, Mr. Cyril King carried on business as a general agent and mer chant. He was famous for his hospitality, and he will be sorely missed. His funeral was attended by a large cross-section of Ovalau's population, and by many main land friends.

Mr. S. R. Young, secretary of New Guinea Industries, has been spending some weeks in Sydney on business. He recently returned to New Guinea.

The large number of mourners passing through the main street of Levuka to attend Mr. King’s funeral. This photograph was kindly sent to us by Mrs. A. A. Innes, who was visiting Levuka at the time.